A Pair of Pheasants in the Snow 1910

Ohara Koson made this print of pheasants in the snow, and the way he’s handled the medium gives it a life of its own, you know? The printing process itself is so present. Look at the bird at the front, head down in the snow, seemingly pecking about for food. Koson uses these really delicate lines, almost like he’s sketching, to give the impression of the bird’s feathers. Then, above it, you see this other bird standing at the peak of a snowdrift, peering off into the distance. The contrast between the two is a lesson in mark making. The scene is grounded by a light orange colour field behind the bird at the summit, which is broken up by a snow-topped pine branch. It reminds me of those old woodblock prints, Hiroshige for example, where the lines and colours aren't just describing something but are part of the feeling itself. It’s like he's showing us that seeing is never just looking – it’s a whole process.