Crow with cherry blossom 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson made this print of a crow with cherry blossom, likely with woodblocks, and it’s all about the art of seeing. The palette is muted, almost like a memory. It makes me wonder what the weather was like when Koson was making this—there is something of a melancholic grey day about it. I can imagine the artist carefully carving each line to depict the crow's plumage. The dark bird contrasts so vividly with the delicate white blossoms, creating a visual dance. Look at the way Koson captured the texture of the feathers, each one distinct, almost palpable. And how the blossoms seem to float, ephemeral, against the sky. Maybe he was thinking about the fleeting nature of beauty, or the balance between darkness and light. I feel a kinship with him—this is an ongoing conversation artists have across time. We keep looking, keep making.