Kiyoshi Saito (1907-1997) Japanese, 1958 Woodblock, "Coral B". Signed. Kiyoshi Saito overcame significant hardship to become one of Japan’s most celebrated modern printmakers. Born in 1907 in the rural Fukushima prefecture, Saito experienced poverty, family upheaval, and the death of his mother at a young age. After working as a sign painter in Hokkaido, he moved to Tokyo in pursuit of an artistic career, where he taught himself woodblock printing while studying Western art and modern design principles. Influenced by artists such as Shiko Munakata and mentor Koshiro Onchi, Saito became associated with the Sosaku Hanga (“creative print”) movement, which emphasized the artist’s personal expression. Though initially dismissed in Japan as overly influenced by Western tastes, his reputation changed dramatically after winning international recognition at the 1951 São Paulo Biennial. Saito’s prints combine traditional Japanese woodblock techniques with bold abstraction, geometric composition, and a rustic, expressive quality inspired by northern Japan. His subjects ranged from landscapes and village scenes to portraits, animals, and still lifes, all rendered with remarkable simplicity, clarity, and modern vitality.

Overall Size: 26 x 21 3/4 in. 

Sight Size: 17 1/2 x 13 1/2 in. 

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