Toshio Saeki - Death Book

Toshio Saeki
Death Book

Published by Baron, 2023
Book size 32 × 28 cm
Pages 76
Hardcover
Language English


Baron Books' "Death Book" series, known for exploring artists' views of mortality, is dedicating its fourth edition to the provocative work of Toshio Saeki (1945-2019).

Saeki's art is rooted in traditional Japanese genres such as shunga (Japanese erotic printmaking from the Edo period) and ero-guro-nonsense (a Japanese art movement combining the erotic and the macabre). His style intertwines eroticism, death, gore, and humor. This distinctive combination finds expression in a striking visual language that incorporates elements of ukiyo-e prints, Western and Japanese comics, and contemporary art.

Due to the recurring themes of death and violence in his playful yet erotic images, Saeki's work has previously been featured in the "Death Book" series. This latest edition, titled "Death Book: Toshio Saeki," opens with a lengthy essay by graphic designer and art historian Euphemia Franklin.