Signal 1962

Kiyoshi Saito made this print, called Signal, using woodblocks to create a complex depiction of urban infrastructure. I love the way the black and white contrast creates these graphic shapes - it’s as if Saito is mapping the space as he goes. Looking closely, the graininess of the black ink gives the image a rich texture. Those lines - like thick black ropes - define the bridge’s structure against the night sky. Then you’ve got the white lines, like electrical wires, slicing through, adding a sense of depth and movement, and punctuating the scene with two bright red dots. These interrupt the blacks and whites with moments of heat and urgency. Each element is distinct, yet they all work together to create this atmospheric urban space. It reminds me of the Precisionist paintings of American factories, but Saito gives it a Japanese twist. But whatever you see, there’s no right or wrong way to read it - let yourself be drawn in by those blacks, whites and reds.