Daitokuji, Kyoto 1957

Kiyoshi Saito made "Daitokuji, Kyoto" using the Japanese woodblock printing technique, and right away, what grabs me is the way he simplifies the scene. The textures are incredible – look at the wood grain he's printed, mimicking the look of stone paving with a real organic feel. It's like he's playing with our sense of touch. The tall, dark shapes, they could be trees, they could be markers, but they strike a chord, adding a touch of mystery to the scene. That off-white pathway cuts through the scene like a deliberate choice, guiding us through the image. Saito’s got this wonderful way of blending the abstract with the recognizable. You can almost feel the quiet of the place, that very Japanese feeling of calm. It reminds me a bit of Agnes Martin, in the way she uses simple shapes to evoke a whole mood. It's a beautiful example of how less can definitely be more.