Girl D 1967

Kiyoshi Saito made this print of a girl sometime in the twentieth century, I’m guessing, using ink on paper. The high contrast and clever use of light create a sense of mystery around the figure, she is almost entirely in shadow. The texture of the paper itself seems to have been used to add depth and tactile interest. You can see the marks and subtle gradations where the artist applied or removed ink, revealing the texture of the underlying surface, adding richness and complexity to the monochrome image. I wonder if Saito had a fascination with Japanese folk art and the beauty he found in everyday life. Woodblock prints like this, with their simplified forms and emphasis on texture, sit in a long tradition of mark-making. Artists, you know, we're always picking up on each other's vibes, riffing on what's come before. It’s this ongoing conversation across time and space that keeps art alive. And that constant exchange of ideas, well, it’s what keeps us all inspired, isn't it?