Heron or Egret

A heron or egret rendered without the certainty of species identification — a reminder that even Koson, who was meticulous about species accuracy, sometimes produced prints where the exact bird was ambiguous either in his source material or in subsequent cataloging. The long-legged wading bird stands or moves through its habitat with the careful poise that Koson rendered across dozens of prints. His heron and egret subjects collectively form a sustained study in the formal possibilities of the long-necked, still-water bird.