Kiyoshi Saito - Kiyoshi Saito was one of the greatest masters of the "sosaku hanga" or "creative print" movement in Japan, which emphasized artist involvement in designing, carving, and printing the blocks himself, as the sole creator of his work. In 1951, Saito earned international recognition with an award at the first Sao Paulo Art Biennal. Saito is known for his use of simplified forms and refined color palettes, emphasizing texture and shape and utilizing the impression of the wood grain. These bold and somewhat abstract modern works are simple and direct, reducing nature to its essentials. Saito exhibited widely and his works are held in the collections of many international museums.

Village of Mito - Striking sosaku hanga view of the village of Mito, with farmers walking through the town, one carrying a large bundle of firewood on his back. Tall trees line the street along with traditional thatched-roof buildings castling long gray shadows. A wooded mountain fills the distance beneath a blue sky scattered with white clouds. The dark structure framing the scene at left adds a sense of depth and the feeling of moving from dark to light as you enter the image. A great design by this modern master.

Signed - Kiyoshi Saito in pencil within image at left with red artist's seal

Artist - Kiyoshi Saito (1907 - 1997)

Image Size - 9 5/8" x 14 1/4" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with nice color and detail as shown. Tape remnants on reverse at edges from previous mounting. A few creases at edges and spots. Please see photos for details.