Saito Kiyoshi: Bridging Tradition and Modernity in Japanese Printmaking Kiyoshi Saitō (斎藤 清, 1907–1997), born in Aizu Bangi, Fukushima Prefecture, stands as a pivotal figure in the history of *sōsaku hanga*, or “independent printmaking,” marking a significant departure from conventional artistic practices and establishing himself as one of Japan’s foremost masters of this medium. His life was marked by hardship early on—orphaned at tw…