Rain (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Saitō Kiyoshi
Description
Saito ̄ Kiyoshi
Japan, 1907–1997
Rain (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Sho ̄wa period (1926–89)
1956
Color woodblock print on paper
Gift of the artist, 1959/2.28
This view of a rainy spring day on the Diag, one of the most
recognizable locations on the U–M campus for students and
alumni, is based on sketches Saito ̄ made during his stay in Ann
Arbor. Like his landscapes featuring Japan’s countryside and
historic cities, this work demonstrates Saito ̄’s masterful sense
of composition.
Subject Matter:
In the 1950s and 1960s the Creative Print (sôsaku hanga) movement became the new face of Japanese art in the international art scene. Not initially prized in Japan, much work by Creative Print Movement artists was indeed intended for international audiences. As the movement came to represent the nation in the modern art world, artists like Saitô traveled to sell their work and galleries were established overseas from which to distribute and display it. This generated international exposure that garnered for these artists a more cosmopolitan image that was critical to their success both domestically and abroad.
Physical Description:
This work portrays a dynamic, umbrella-studded view of the University of Michigan Diag, based on sketches Saitô made during his trip to Ann Arbor in the fifties.
Usage Rights:
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