Cat 

Curator: This is Kiyoshi Saito’s "Cat," a woodblock print that manages to be both stylized and intensely feline. Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by how the abstract shapes manage to capture the essence of "cat-ness"—that mix of aloofness and quiet power. And those almond eyes… Curator: Saito’s work often dances between Ukiyo-e traditions and modernist abstraction, and here he masterfully blends flat planes of color to define form. Look closely, and you will find that the wood grain pattern in the grey section softens its form adding movement, so it’s not merely a block of color but evokes the soft curve of fur, too. Editor: Absolutely. Considering this is a print, the textural quality is compelling. You’re right—it's not just about the image, but also the feeling evoked by the layering and manipulation of material. Do you think this work blurs the boundary between fine art and something mass produced or is it all hand made? Curator: These woodblock prints, each one possesses a certain singularity arising from their method of creation. Saito personally oversaw all stages, so you are not just admiring a graphic but engaging in an intimate relation with process and intention. Think, too, about the labour. Editor: The lines have such conviction—decisive. The palette too, so constrained. Yet, it projects an atmosphere of contemplation. Did Saito have cats, do we know? Curator: What a lovely thought! While details of his personal life are scant, it’s clear Saito held a deep reverence for simplicity. Much of his art, indeed, invites us into precisely such mindful spaces: to observe the overlooked and to distil joy from quiet observation. Editor: Well, "Cat," you have officially bewitched me! I shall leave here with a headful of impressions to reflect upon, not least an unexpected sense of gratitude for craft.