Head of a Cat 1953

Kiyoshi Saito's "Head of a Cat," made in 1953, is a woodblock print that flattens form into shapes, and it's a nice example of how art making is a decision making process. The texture here isn't about illusion; it’s literally the wood grain, made present by the wiping away of ink. What looks like shading on the cat’s face is really just a lighter grey, flatly printed. This adds depth by contrasting with the black shapes around it. The eyes aren’t round, but weirdly lozenge-shaped, with a single vertical line through one. It’s not about what a cat actually looks like, but more about the idea of a cat, and how simple forms can trigger an image. This reminds me of Matisse’s cut-outs, where he used scissors to make shapes directly, like drawing in space. Both artists share a love for simple forms and bold colors, turning everyday subjects into something new. We can get caught up in trying to figure out what art "means," but sometimes it's just about seeing what happens when you put things together.