Illusion of the Sea (Umi no Genso)
- Date:
- 1950
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print
- Dimensions:
- 44 × 69.9 cm
- Edition:
- Self-printed
- Source:
- Art Institute of Chicago
Description
The 1950 Illusion of the Sea (Umi no Genso) is among Saito's earlier mature works—the date places it in the period when he had just begun systematically exploring the formal language that would define his career. The sea, rendered not as realistic water but as structured color planes, achieves the dreamlike quality the title announces: waves simplified to horizontal bands, the sea's surface a flat ground rather than a moving volume. The tension between illusion and geometric fact sustains the composition.
More Prints by Saito Kiyoshi
More Seascapes Prints
Child of the Sea
1940
Woodblock print
The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
1934
Color woodblock print; oban
Pacific Ocean, Awa Province (Boshu Taikai), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"
Boshu Taikai
1925
Color woodblock print; oban
Pine Beach at Miho (Miho no Matsubara), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"
September 1931
Color woodblock print; oban
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Illusion of the Sea (Umi no Genso) was created by Saito Kiyoshi (斎藤清) in 1950.
Illusion of the Sea (Umi no Genso) depicts seascapes.
Illusion of the Sea (Umi no Genso) measures 44 × 69.9 cm.