Garden Syugaku-In [Shugakuin] 

Kiyoshi Saito created the woodblock print "Garden Syugaku-In" sometime during his career which spanned much of the 20th century. Saito lived through a transformative period in Japanese history, including World War II and the subsequent modernization of Japan. His work often merges traditional Japanese aesthetics with modernist abstraction, reflecting these cultural shifts. Saito's prints present simplified forms and flattened perspectives. He distills complex scenes into their essential shapes, using color and texture to create depth and interest. The focus on gardens perhaps represents a longing for tranquility, a space for contemplation amidst the rapid social changes and the legacy of war. Saito once said, "I am not interested in depicting things as they are, but as I feel them." Saito creates a personal and emotional response to a cultural landscape, connecting the viewer to the quiet beauty that persists despite the changing times.