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.

February Market Auctions - I’ve selected 175 prints for special market driven auctions in February. There are a range of excellent prints, from high quality and rare Edo era prints, to fine old reprints. It’s an especially nice group with each print opening at $39 selling to any highest bid! Keep an eye out for my February $39 Market Auctions and good luck bidding!

-Bill

Girl (C), 1967 - Interesting, almost abstract portrait of a girl in silhouette. The hair curves sleekly over the young woman's shoulders, subtly differentiated from the body of the figure by a denser black tone. The red of the background at left appears peeks through the darker surface tones of the body and face. Saito has used the strong grain of the wood block to add texture and interest to the design. A wonderful, limited edition, sosaku hanga design by Saito, signed and numbered on paper watermarked "Kiyoshi Saito." A fine large-format print that would make a great modern framed display.

Signed - Signed in white ink within the image; titled, numbered, and dated 1967 in pencil in bottom margin
Numbered - 22/100

Artist - Kiyoshi Saito (1907 - 1997)

Image Size - 20 3/4" x 15" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Slight toning, a few spots and creases in margins. Please see photos for details. Good overall.