Shoji Sanpo-in Kyotoby: Kiyoshi Saito
Kiyoshi Saito (1907-1997) is a famous print maker and one of the first Japanese print makers to be awarded for his work. Much of his earlier work depicts the populace with a great deal of realism and three-dimensionality. It is interesting that his more "mature" and famous pieces resort to two-dimensional designs of Architecture with a combination of Japanese tradition.
He shows this sense of tradition in the work above titled "Shoji Sanpo-in Kyoto". As the name implies, it is a depiction of the temple Sanpoin located in the hills of Kyoto. The temple was destroyed in a fire but in 1598, one of Japan's key historical figures, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, sought its reconstruction. The temple now houses important paintings and a garden supposedly designed by Hideyoshi himself.
The above work is so reduced from three-dimensional that it relies mostly on geometrical shapes. The flatness of this image provides a modern abstractness that really allows its viewers to interpret it in numerous ways. This is a level of openness not found in more realistic three-dimensional images. Like other two-dimensional prints it is incapable of presenting depth. However, the illusion of depth is presented by the combination of smaller shapes put side by side. This is seen between the relation of walls in the "background" (term used loosely). The walls vary in the length creating the illusion of one is set further back than the other (depth). An interesting feature of this print is that what appears to be a rock garden that is depicted through the use of a heavy wood grain that Kiyoshi Saito left on the print.
The above work is so reduced from three-dimensional that it relies mostly on geometrical shapes. The flatness of this image provides a modern abstractness that really allows its viewers to interpret it in numerous ways. This is a level of openness not found in more realistic three-dimensional images. Like other two-dimensional prints it is incapable of presenting depth. However, the illusion of depth is presented by the combination of smaller shapes put side by side. This is seen between the relation of walls in the "background" (term used loosely). The walls vary in the length creating the illusion of one is set further back than the other (depth). An interesting feature of this print is that what appears to be a rock garden that is depicted through the use of a heavy wood grain that Kiyoshi Saito left on the print.
I really like this image. I really like how the artist uses geometric shapes throughout the whole image. It is really interesting how he combined two dimensional objects with three dimensional aspects. Good job!
ReplyDeleteI like your analysis on this image. I like how the geometrical shapes and the dimensions are used for this print. I think you said everything you possibly could on this print.
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