Rain, Paris (A)

In the other print in this series, the figures walking in the rain have more distinct contours. In particular, the figure in white is more prominent than the other elements of the composition. The textures also differ considerably in the two prints, noticeable in the exterior walls of the buildings, the street, and the sky. These various textures were achieved by facing plywood blocks with different kinds of wood. The other print is number 106 of a print run of 120, while this print is number 7, indicating that the artist may have improved his vision as the print run progressed.
Saito Kiyoshi is perhaps the most popular contemporary Japanese printmaker in America; he first became known to the public in the 1950s after winning first prize in the First Biennial Exhibit of Modern Art in São Paolo, Brazil.