Hasegawa Sadanobu II 二代長谷川貞信

Vegetables were a large part of the Japanese diet in the Edo period. From crops that had been cultivated for centuries, such as turnips and eggplant, to newly imported produce, diverse ingredients were met with delight. Carrots and corn were introduced to Japan in the 1500s and 1600s. Brought to Japan from the Americas by Portuguese traders, corn was originally used as animal feed but later gained popularity as an ingredient.

Turnips and eggplants have been cultivated for centuries in Japan and were widely consumed in the Edo period. Eggplants were considered auspicious. Pictured here with Mount Fuji, the eggplant was and still is associated with the New Year and blessings of good health, luck, and prosperity.

The five prints by Sadanobu II on this wall may have been conceived as a set because of their similarity in size and theme. This example is distinguished by its unusual subject matter. The still-life is executed in a rough and loose style typical of casual album paintings.