Reiger bij volle maan 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson created "Reiger bij volle maan" - or "Heron in the Full Moon" in English - a woodblock print, location and date unknown. Koson was a leading figure in the Shin-Hanga movement which revitalized traditional Japanese art by blending it with Western influences. Here, we see a heron in flight against a luminous full moon. This print encapsulates a fusion of traditional Japanese aesthetics with a modern sensibility. Birds and flowers, known as kacho-ga, were a popular subject in Japanese art. Koson's portrayal differs from earlier representations with its heightened sense of realism. Consider, for example, the heron's lifelike pose. In the west, the heron can symbolize patience and tranquility. In Japan, the heron is a symbol of purity and longevity because they were believed to live over 1000 years. Koson’s heron flies freely, seemingly unbound by earthly concerns. In Koson’s heron we can reflect on the intersection of nature, identity, and cultural symbolism. It invites us to contemplate our place in the natural world and reflect on our relationship to it.