Mussen en besneeuwde pruimenboom 1900 - 1936

Ohara Koson made this print, ‘Sparrows and Snow-covered Plum Tree,’ sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. The muted palette—soft grays, browns, and pinks—creates a calm, wintry scene. You can almost feel the quiet stillness of a snowy day. Look at the way the snow is rendered, like a thick, soft blanket covering the branches. The texture seems almost palpable, inviting you to reach out and touch it. And then there are the sparrows, caught mid-flight, their wings spread wide. Their brown feathers are delicately detailed, and their eyes seem to sparkle with life. Notice how the artist uses subtle gradations of color to create depth and movement. It’s like the whole scene is breathing. Koson’s work reminds me of other Japanese printmakers, like Hiroshige, who captured the beauty of nature with such simplicity and grace. Art is like a conversation that continues across time. It's not about fixed meanings, but about opening up spaces for imagination and wonder.