Maiko (3)

Home‎ > ‎Artists‎ > ‎Saitō Kiyoshi (1907-1997)‎ > ‎

Japanese Color Woodblock Print

Maiko (3)

by Saitō Kiyoshi, undated

(c. late 1960s to early 1970s)

IHL Cat. #1531

About This Print

One of at least fifteen prints from Saitō that depict maiko in various poses and from various angles. The first maiko print appeared in 1959 and continued into the 1960s and, possibly, into the early 1970s. This print is from an unnumbered (open) edition and is not dated, but is likely from the late 1960s to early 1970s. The print is also seen with the artist's signature in white ink (see below) rather than black ink, as on this collection's print.

As with many of his prints, Saitō makes brilliant use of the natural grain of the woodblock. Melanie C. Gibb comments on Saitō's use of woodblock grain in the catalog of the exhibition Revisiting Modern Japanese Prints" as follows:

He often began the carving process with a solid piece of katsura or plywood while later executing large areas of his designs with mokumezuri, or grain printing. This natural texture, exposed by scouring out the soft surface of the grain, is beautifully applied in the print Maiko, as seen in the large flat area of obi fabric which beautifully undulates against the curvilinear form of the geisha-in-training.

Maiko (3) with artist's signature in white ink

A Few Other Maikos

Maiko Kyoto (A), 1959
edition of 100
20 1/2 x 14 1/2 in. (52.1 x 36.8 cm)

Maiko Kyoto (E), 1960
edition of 200
Cleveland Museum of Art 1985.395

Maiko Kyoto (F), 1960
edition of 200
20 1/2 x 15 in. (52.1 x 38.1 cm)

Maiko Kyoto (G), 1961
20 15/16 x 15 1/4 in.
(53.2 x 38.7 cm.)
Artelino Auction Item 51018

Maiko Kyoto (H), 1961
edition of 300
20 3/4 x 15 3/8 in. (52.5 x 39 cm)

Maiko Kyoto (I), 1961
edition of 300
23 1/2 x 18 in. (59.7 x 45.7 cm)
Cleveland Museum of Art

Maiko Kyoto (S), 1961
sheet: 32 5/16 in x 20 3/4 in.
(82.1 x 52.7 cm)
image: 29 5/8 in x 17 5/8 in.
(75.2 cm x 44.8 cm
Five Colleges and Historic Deerfield Museum Consortium SC 2017:2-25

Maiko Kyoto (T), 1964
edition of 100
Cleveland Museum of Art 1985.391

Maiko (4), undated
open edition
15 3/4 x 10 3/4 in. (40 x 27.3 cm)

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#1531
Title	untitled [(Maiko (3)]
Series	none
Artist	Saitō Kiyoshi (1907-1997)
Signature	Kiyoshi Saito
Seal	清 Kiyoshi seal
Publication Date	not dated (c. late 1960s to early1970s)
Edition	unknown
Publisher	self-published
Carver	self-carved
Printer	unknown
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	excellent
Genre	sosaku hanga (creative print)
Miscellaneous
Format	dai oban
H x W Paper	17 x 11 1/4 in. (43.2 x 28.6 cm)
H x W Image	15 1/2 x 10 1/8 in. (39.4 x 25.7 cm)
Collections This Print	Northern Illinois University NIU 2005.33
Reference Literature	Revisiting Modern Japanese Prints: Selected Works from the Richard F. Grott Family Collection, Helen M. Nagata, Helen Merritt, Northern Illinois University Art Museum, 2007, cat. 20, p. 30, 56, 85.

last updated:

3/23/2019