Nude 1954

Kiyoshi Saito made this woodblock print called 'Nude', and it’s like a secret language of shapes. Look at how Saito uses color – red and black, so stark, but softened by the texture of the wood. It's not just color; it's a feeling, an emotion carved into the surface. The white lines aren’t just outlines; they’re like pathways, guiding your eye around the figure, through the space. Now, fix your gaze on the area where the figure's head meets her knee. See how the white line loops and curves? It’s this simple, elegant gesture that brings the whole piece together. Saito's work reminds me a little of Matisse, but with a Japanese sensibility. It’s not just about what you see, but how you feel it. And in that feeling, there's always room for more than one way of understanding things.