Pomegranate 

Here we see the image of a pomegranate rendered by Yōzō Hamaguchi using the mezzotint technique. The pomegranate, cleaved to reveal its seeds, appears to us as a symbol pregnant with meaning. Across cultures and time, the fruit has been associated with fertility, abundance, and regeneration. Think of ancient Greece, where it was sacred to Hera, goddess of marriage, or its prominent place in religious art, symbolizing hope and eternal life. The act of bisecting it reveals a wealth of seeds; perhaps a nod to themes of generation and life. Yet here, the dark background suggests a more mysterious, perhaps somber, dimension. Like Persephone's fateful taste, it can also signify the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. The pomegranate's journey from ancient myth to modern art shows a deep-seated human fascination with symbols of renewal.