Rain (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Saitō Kiyoshi
Description
Saitō Kiyoshi 斎藤清
Japan, 1907–1997
Rain (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
Shōwa era (1926–89)
1956
Color woodblock print on paper
Gift of the artist, 1959/2.28
This scene is based on sketches drawn by the artist during a stay in
Ann Arbor in the 1950s. It represents the University of Michigan Diag,
sparsely populated by figures decked out in umbrellas and raincoats.
Here, Saitō Kiyoshi challenges our assumptions regarding the
presumed flatness of the printmaking medium, convincingly creating
an illusion of spatial depth. For example, the intersecting vertical
and diagonal lines, in the form of tree trunks and footpaths, suggest
distinct planes receding into the distance. The artist has also modified
the width of some lines—those in the foreground narrow as they
recede into the background, reinforcing the illusion of depth.
(Japanese Gallery Rotation, Summer 2025)
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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