Chicks and Worm 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson made this print of chicks and a worm, probably sometime in the early 20th century, with woodblocks. The tonal range in this piece is soft, like a memory, the pale, gentle colours make it feel really intimate. It's like seeing the world through a child's eyes. The textures throughout this piece are amazing; the way the plumage of the chicks is defined by tiny, delicate marks, and how this contrasts with the smooth, reflective surface of the water. The water is so still, you can almost feel the humidity in the air! Look at the chick on the right, how Koson shows the dynamic movement with the delicate angular marks of the feet. It’s a tiny detail but brings the whole piece to life. Koson’s contemporary, Utagawa Hiroshige, also captured ephemeral moments in nature with such sensitivity. Both artists remind us that art is as much about feeling as it is about seeing. It's an ongoing conversation about how we experience the world.