Gray starling in storm
1900 - 1910
Ohara Koson was an absolute master at capturing the dramatic, often chaotic lives of birds, and here he freezes a gray starling in a moment of pure panic. Clinging desperately to a bare, twisting branch, the bird spreads its wings against a fierce, diagonal rainstorm, its beak wide open as if shouting defiance at the sky. This piece is a brilliant example of shin-hanga (new prints), a movement that revitalized traditional Japanese woodblock printing in the early 20th century by blending classic techniques with a touch of Western realism. You can almost feel the cold wind whipping through the feathers and hear the bird's cry over the howling storm.
- Technique
- Woodblock print
- Material
- Paper
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