Sosaku Hanga - The sosaku hanga or creative print movement in Japan began in the early part of the twentieth century. Unlike the traditional collaborative woodblock printing process utilizing a separate artist, carver, and printer along with a publisher, the sosaku hanga movement emphasized artist involvement in designing, carving, and printing the blocks himself, as the sole creator of his work. The movement gained popularity following World War II, earning international acclaim and expanding subject matter to include abstraction. Today most contemporary Japanese print artists design, carve, and print their woodblocks themselves, continuing the vibrant creative tradition established with ukiyo-e. Sosaku hanga prints encompass a wide range of subjects and expressive artistic styles, and are a great choice for a collector interested in modern and contemporary prints.

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.

Signed - Kiyoshi Saito in ink with image at lower left, with red artist's seal

Artist - Kiyoshi Saito (1907 - 1997)

Image Size - 10 1/2" x 15 1/4" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with good color and detail as shown. Tape remnants on reverse at edges from previous mounting. Toning at edges, a couple spots in margin. Please see photos for details.