The artwork, titled “Ancient City Nara,” was created by Kiyoshi Saito in 1957. It belongs to the Sōsaku hanga art movement and falls within the cityscape genre.
In the artwork, the artist presents a captivating portrayal of the ancient city of Nara, utilizing a minimalistic yet evocative style. The composition features contrasting dark and muted tones, which create a sense of depth and mystery. Silhouettes of traditional Japanese architecture dominate the scene, enriched with an intricate interplay of shadows and light. Subtle details, such as the small, delicate depiction of a cat and the sparse vegetation, add intriguing focal points that draw the viewer’s attention. The rendering of textures and forms in the artwork exemplifies Saito’s mastery of the woodblock printing technique, characteristic of the Sōsaku hanga movement.
