Cats 1955

Cats by Kiyoshi Saito is a woodblock print that shows the artist’s superb handling of natural materials. The print is made by carving a design into a block of wood, applying ink to the raised surface, and then pressing paper against the block to transfer the image. Here, you can clearly see the wood grain coming through, especially in the reddish background. Saito has fully embraced the natural qualities of the wood. It’s a relatively simple, economic process, yet it requires considerable skill, especially when aligning multiple blocks to achieve different colors. The artist's interest in the texture of wood imbues the print with social or cultural significance. Woodblock printing has a long history in Japan, dating back centuries, often associated with folk art and craft traditions. Saito’s work bridges the gap between these traditions and the world of fine art, showing how so-called ‘low’ materials can be transformed into an object of beauty and contemplation. The image feels very modern, yet the connection to the past remains palpable.