Girl

Accession Number
2008/2.187

Title
Girl

Artist(s)
Saitō Kiyoshi

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1966

Medium & Support
woodcut on Echizen Hosho paper

Dimensions
17 1/2 in x 23 1/2 in (44.45 cm x 59.69 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. Seymour and Barbara K. Adelson

Label copy

Saitô Kiyoshi
Japan, 1907–1997
Girl
Shôwa period (1926–89)
1966
Color woodblock print on Echizen Hosho paper
Gift of Dr. Seymour and Barbara K. Adelson, 2008/2.187



Subject matter
Originally trained as a sign painter, Saitô then taught himself the techniques of woodblock printing after moving to Tokyo. Girl is characteristic of the woodcuts for which Saitô is well-known, with its graphic nature and integration of strong woodgrain patterns into the composition. Saitô was part of the movement in Japan, called Sosaku hanga, that moved away from the traditional workshop-based printmaking practices towards one in which the individual artist was responsible for the design, creation, and production of their artwork. 

Physical Description
This woodcut shows a close-up image of the head of a girl. On an off-white paper, the print is created in two blocks: black, and bright yellow for the background. The figure has short hair, and is seen in profile, facing left, with her eyes closed. There are pronounced woodgrain patterns in black throughout the girl's face and background. The print is signed in white ink (l.r.) "Kiyoshi Saito" and titled, numbered and dated in pencil (l.c.) "GIRL   10/100   1966".

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Japanese (culture or style)
[300310626] Sōsaku hanga [Japanese printmaking styles, Japanese styles (styles)]
color woodcuts
girls

1 Related Resource

Girlhood
(Part of 9 Learning Collections)

& Author Notes

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