Kiyoshi Saito (1907 - 1997) Medium: Woodblock Saito is perhaps the Japanese woodblock printer best known to Westerners. His first solo exhibit was held in Tokyo in 1942. After the war he won an international competition in Sao Paulo, Brazil, surprising the Japanese artworld when his woodblock prints won the top prize over the work of sculptors and painters. During the late nineteen forties and early fifties, many Westerners were attracted to Saito’s peaceful images of traditional Japanese gardens, temples and his hometown village of Aizu. Ever since, Saito has been widely popular and is known for his distinctive style. It is easily recognized by simplified and graceful renditions, usually in tranquil greens, grays or browns. Often he utilized the grain of the woodblock as an integral part of the design, and employed harmonious lines and shadows to evoke tranquil serenity. After receiving a State Department invitation, Saito toured the United States in 1956. Later, a sketch of Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato was used as the cover for a 1967 Time magazine. A rather prolific and popular artist, Saito also did such varied images as cats, dachshunds, Maiko dancers, nude women, haniwa burial figures, and imagery inspired by travels in the US, Mexico and Europe. In every creation, the artist offered his own unique approach to composition--architectural studies become abstracted, renditions of gardens or temples have an intriguing perspective to add mystery, studies of joyful children include complex fabric patterns, and pathways and tree limbs are offered in provocative juxtaposition to an old thatched roof farmhouse. The viewer is constantly challenged by the artist’s creativity and ingenuity, while at the same time being offered quiet, restful scenes rendered in an easy and affectionate mode. Saito continued to do traditional woodblock printmaking well into his eighties. Exhibitions: Tokyo, Japan New York City Sao Paulo, Brazil--award winner Albuquerque, New Mexico Miami, Florida Cairo, Egypt--prize winner Melbourne, Australia Corcoran Gallery, Washington, DC Honolulu, Hawaii Ljubljana, Yugoslavia--award winner Ann Arbor, Michigan Collections: Cincinnati Art Museum Miami Art Museum Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Museum of Modern Art, New York City National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo Achenbach Foundation, Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco

"Aizu" 1972 woodblock, ed. 200 11.75" by 17.5" paper Price: $1600 "Nun, Paris " 1974 unusual woodblock, with embassing, ed 150 13.5" by 19.5" Price: $1800 "Dachshund" woodblock, unlimited edition 11.5" by 17.5" Price: $750 "Old Woman" woodblock, unlimited edition 11.25" by 16.75" Price: $750 matted to 16 by 20 "Plowing The Field" woodblock, unlimited ed. 11.5" by 17.25" Price: $650 matted to 16 by 20 "Tea Shop " woodblock, unlimited ed. 11.5" by 17.5" Price: $800 matted "Village with Green Hill" woodblock, unlimited ed. 11.25" by 16.75" Price: $650 matted to 16 by 20 "Villager with Cow" woodblock, unlimited ed. 11.25" by 16.75" Price: $650 matted to 16 by 20. "Maiko Kyoto (H)" woodblock, 1961 ed. 300 23.5" by 18" Price: $3250 "Temple Gate" Suiboku painting on shikishi card 12" by 16" Price: $7500   Additional works are available. Please Inquire.