Maiko Kyoto (M) 

Kiyoshi Saito made this woodblock print, Maiko Kyoto (M), in the mid-20th century. The artwork depicts a maiko, an apprentice geisha, rendered in a simplified, modern style. The print reflects a broader interest in Japanese identity and tradition in the post-war period. Consider the visual language Saito employs. He reduces the figure to essential forms and patterns, flattening the image. The wood grain on the kimono and the textured background create a tactile quality, typical of the sosaku-hanga print movement. This movement was significant because it emphasized the artist's individual creativity, breaking away from the collaborative system of traditional ukiyo-e prints. Saito's work sits within a context of cultural reconstruction and negotiation of traditional and modern values. We can explore these dynamics further by looking at art journals from the period or exhibition catalogues to understand the institutional frameworks that supported artists like Saito. The meaning of art is always contingent on its historical context.