Bitter Melon 1825

print, ink, color-on-paper

toned paper

water colours

print

henna art

japan

ink

color-on-paper

linocut print

botanical drawing

ink colored

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

botanical art

watercolor

"Bitter Melon" is a woodblock print by Dodo Kōnen, created in 1825. The print depicts a vine with leaves and a single bitter melon fruit, showcasing the artist's mastery of delicate lines and detailed botanical illustration. The use of muted colors and the simple composition create a sense of tranquility. This work showcases the Japanese artistic appreciation for the natural world and its beauty. This print is a fine example of the "kiga" genre, which specifically focuses on botanical subjects, and would have been appreciated for its realism and aesthetic appeal.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

Bearing a distinctive warty fruit in October, bitter melon is traditionally associated with autumn in Japanese poetry. When fully ripe, the fruit cracks and reveals pink flesh, as depicted here. Even though the fruit is edible, bitter melon was enjoyed mostly for its ornamental yellow flowers during the Edo period (1615-1868). The poetry society Sakuramonren commissioned this print to publish its members' haiku poems, and twenty-three verses describing the beauty of autumn appear on the print. The artist Dodo Hirotoshi cleverly integrated text and image by having the melon's long vine surround the verses.