Kiyoshi Saitō Figurative Prints

A beautiful print of a Geisha girl sitting with the back of her kimono displayed. This is a Japanese woodblock circa the 1960s. Pencil signed lower left...

Artist: Kiyoshi Saito (Japanese, 1907-1997) Title: Red Flower Year: 1968 Medium: Color woodcut with remark Signature: Hand signed in pencil by the artist Edition: Numbered ...

Chic design of a seated Frenchwoman, her white hands pensive against her boldly patterned red top. Her hair is in an updo, and a blue cabochon ring stands in contrast on her left hand. Behind her are windows that seem to be stained glass. Numbered 55/120 from a limited edition. Saito traveled to Paris and created some surprising and delightful designs, as here. Perfect for the midcentury modern bedroom or living room. Signed: Kiyoshi Saito in ink. Affixed with Saito's "Self-carved, Self-printed" paper seal on back. Saito was an innovative giant in the sosaku hanga tradition of 20th century Japanese woodblock...

Bold lithograph of a red Funerary statue (Haniwa) displayed in a black box or case by Kiyoshi Saito (Japanese, 1907-1997). The statue appears as if it is displayed in a museum case, against a brown wood grain background. Dated, signed in gouache lower left, titled in pencil, and numbered (34/100) by the artist. Also includes the artist's "chop" (seal). Saito has produced several pieces with the title "Haniwa" and this appears to be an earlier work, as it does not contain a number in the title. Presented in a complimenting red mat. Print size: 20.5"H x 15"W; Paper size: 23.5"H x 18"W. Saito did a series of Haniwa images of the funerary Terracotta Kofun era vessels used as decoration on burial Mounds during the Kofun (250 to c. 600 C.E.) period in Japan. Japanese artist Kiyoshi Saito did not have it easy. Nature endowed him with an impulse for art and the drive to make the impossible possible. Saito studied European artists to recognize the qualities in the Japanese tradition itself, for which the modern international trends strive. His woodblock prints using traditional Japanese techniques are among the most sought after pieces in the art market. Kiyoshi Saito was born in 1907 in a small village named Bange in the Kawanuma District of the Fukushima prefecture in the northern part of Honshu, the main Japanese island. When he was five years old, his father lost his business in Fukushima and the family moved further north to the island of Hokkaido, where his father worked in the coal mines in Otaru. When Kiyoshi Saito was thirteen years old, his mother died and he himself was sent away to become the guardian of a Buddhist temple. He tried to escape but failed. Nevertheless, the priests allowed him to return home. Saito then went to Hokkaido, where he took on a sign painting apprenticeship, which could have provided him a living for several years. At that time he dreamed of becoming a painter and he began to sketch gypsum casts at night. He founded his first sign painting business before his twentieth birthday and ensured himself a living and modest financial success. He reluctantly abandoned it, however, to study art in Tokyo. For the time being, he was content with studying illustrations in western newspapers and collecting animations. While visiting Tokyo in 1932, he boldly decided to surrender himself to the big city life. He first worked as a sign painter and then later from 1944 until 1954 as an employee of the Asahi Newspaper Company. The job, however, was a secondary matter. More importantly, Saito became a close contact to Shiko Munakata through the job. He then decided to become familiar with the technique of woodcutting and was not the least impressed by the color woodblock prints of the western-oriented painter Yasui Sotaro (1888-1955). Saito continued to paint with oil and taught himself the techniques of woodblock printing. In 1937 he presented both types of work for the first time in the famous Kokugakai Exhibition and was highly motivated. When he met Ono Tadashige at the Ginza Exhibition in 1939, he became a member of his artist's group, which preceded the outside group Sosaku Hanga. There he discovered the possibilities of color woodcuts with multiple printing plates and his distinctive personal style began to take form. The acquaintance with mentor Koshiro Onchi soon opened doors to famous galleries, where most notably American purchasers took an interest in Saito's work. Kiyoshi Saito emerged as Japan's most productive woodblock print artist, whose editions soon found worldwide markets. Sosaku Hanga artists were, however, first dismissed in the Japanese art world and their works were considered concessions to American tastes. This abruptly changed, however, in 1951 at the first Sao Paulo Art Biennial, when a panel of judges gave prizes not to distinguished artists for oil paintings...

Kiyoshi Saitō (1907 – 1997) Title Not Known, signature and seal lower right. Modern, interior Japanese print featuring dark tones with a splash of neon green. Mat board covers the margins which may have date, title and edition. Visible area: H 20 in. x W 14.625 in. Artist Biography: Kiyoshi Saito was born in Fukushima prefecture in 1907. At the age of five he moved to Otaru in Hokkaido, where he would come to serve as an apprentice to a sign painter. Saito became infatuated with art after studying drawing with Gyokusen Narita and moved to Tokyo in 1932 to study Western-style painting at the Hongo Painting Institute. He began experimenting with woodblock prints and exhibiting his works with Nihon Hanga Kyokai in 1936. Saito mainly worked in oil painting until his invitation from Tadashige Ono...

Kiyoshi Saitō (1907 – 1997) Koho-an Dairoku-ji in Kyoto 1961 signature and seal lower left. Modern Japanese still-life featuring a beautiful grey pattern and pops of teal and red. Mat board covers the margins which may have the title, date and the number of the edition. Visible Area: H 20.5 in. x W 14.75 in. Artist Biography: Kiyoshi Saito was born in Fukushima prefecture in 1907. At the age of five he moved to Otaru in Hokkaido, where he would come to serve as an apprentice to a sign painter. Saito became infatuated with art after studying drawing with Gyokusen Narita and moved to Tokyo in 1932 to study Western-style painting at the Hongo Painting Institute. He began experimenting with woodblock prints and exhibiting his works with Nihon Hanga Kyokai in 1936. Saito mainly worked in oil painting until his invitation from Tadashige Ono...

Kiyoshi Saitō (1907 – 1997) Signal – B. Signed lower right. Non-glare glass makes it difficult to photograph. Visible area: 17” x 23.25”. Frame 25” x 31.5”
 Margins are covered with...

Artist: Kiyoshi Saito (Japanese, 1907-1997) Title: Children Year: Circa 1960 Medium: Color woodcut Edition: Unknown Paper: Japan Image (block mark) size: 4.25 x 9.5 inches ...

This artwork is an original color woodcut (not a reproduction - it is signed in the plate) on thin Japan paper, titled "Steady Gaze," 1952, by Japanese artist Kiyoshi Saito (1907-199...

An original woodblock print by Saito titled "Katsura Kyoto (I)", Dated 1962 hand numbered and signed with artist's seal to lower left, Paper watermarke...