Scenes of Last Tokyo - In 1945, Fugaku Shuppansha published a portfolio of 15 prints by nine different artists illustrating scenes of Tokyo. It is believed that the phrase "Last Tokyo" in the title was a typographical error that should have read "Lost Tokyo." Published a few months after Japan's surrender, many of the subjects depicted suffered damage or destruction during WWII. The images recall these important places that had so much history and meaning for Japan. The artists were all members of the Japanese Print Association working in the sosaku hanga or creative prints movement. This great series includes early designs by artists such as Junichiro Sekino and Kiyoshi Saito, who would go on to gain prominence in the sosaku hanga tradition. Rarely seen in the market, these prints are a great choice for a collector interested in modern Japanese woodblocks.

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.

Asakusa Kannon Hall, 1945 - Lively, early Saito depiction of Asakusa Kannon Hall. The building dominates the composition, framed by bare trees, with crowds of visitors filling the foreground. Most of the figures are rendered in black silhouette, with a few notes of red, dark violet, and green enlivening the design. A terrific and rare Saito, also in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Only the second time we've seen this early Saito design.

Artist - Kiyoshi Saito (1907 - 1997)

Image Size - 7" x 9 3/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Light toning, small spot. Please see photos for details.