Winter in Paris (B) 

Kiyoshi Saito, a Japanese artist, made this woodblock print, Winter in Paris (B). Saito was a self-taught artist who emerged during the Sosaku-hanga, or creative print movement, which promoted the idea that the artist should be involved in every step of printmaking. His work provides a window into the artist's identity and experiences as a Japanese man engaging with Western culture. This print renders a Parisian scene through the lens of Japanese aesthetics. There’s a sense of stillness, and quiet observation. The benches suggest a space for pause and reflection, while the bare trees hint at the starkness of winter. The figure in the kiosk perhaps represents the quintessential Parisian with his bottle of wine. This romantic vision contrasts with the realities of post-war Paris, which was still recovering from the devastation of the Second World War. Saito’s “Winter in Paris” invites us to contemplate cultural exchange, personal interpretation, and the universal search for beauty, even in the most ordinary of scenes.