<b>MANJUSHAGE</b> / Kiyoshi Saito1959$2,500</em>

Details

In this composition, a woman gazes to the right, her profile depicted in the emotive manner characteristic of woodblocks, showcasing the visible woodgrain. The backdrop adopts a matte black surface, serving as a stage for the prominent and expressive glandular hairs of the Manjushage flower, also known as the red spider lily. The Japanese nomenclature of the flower traces its roots to Buddhist literature, where it was described as a celestial bloom absent from the human realm. The flower unfolds in a burst of shapes, traversing the design in undulating ovals that gracefully encircle the woman's profile.

Connoisseur's Note

This is one of the artist’s most sought-after pre-1960 works. The print comes complete with the “Self-Carved Self-Printed” label on the reverse.

This work is in pristine condition with vivid colors—a testament to its years of archival storage. It is quite rare to find large-scale work that has never been framed or displayed and has been spared the transgressions of improper framing and fading caused by years of exposure to sunlight. This print is as fresh as the day it was printed. The work is signed and sealed at the lower right.