A Blonde 

Kiyoshi Saito made this print, "A Blonde," using woodblock techniques. Saito, working in 20th century Japan, merges the traditions of Japanese printmaking with Western modernist aesthetics in a way that invites us to explore the cross-cultural currents of the time. Look at the blocky, simplified forms and bold colors. Saito adopts elements of European modernism. Yet, the subject matter, and the printmaking process itself, root the work in Japanese tradition. Woodblock printing had long been a popular art form in Japan, and Saito's engagement with this medium speaks to a desire to maintain cultural identity amid globalization. What does it mean to depict a blonde woman with such techniques? Was Saito commenting on the increasing Western influence on Japanese culture? Or was it an attempt to bridge cultural divides through art? These are questions we can start to answer by situating Saito’s work within the historical context of post-war Japan. Scrutinizing exhibition records, artist statements, and critical reviews from the period may help clarify the meaning of the art as something contingent on this social and institutional context.