Two veil tails 1900 - 1936

Ohara Koson painted these two veil tails with watercolor, and you can really imagine the artist's hand moving across the paper. See how the pinks bleed into the whites of the paper, and the way he’s built up the color in layers? The paint is so thin that it creates a translucent effect like looking into an aquarium. The fish were created with gentle strokes that convey softness and fluidity, as if the creatures are floating through water, and I imagine the artist had a light touch. There’s a real sense of openness to this piece. It reminds me of some other wonderful painters like Alex Katz and Lois Dodd, who use the same kind of pared-down approach to capture the essence of a subject. Artists learn from each other, and ideas keep circling around! I wonder what we will make next.