Fruit on Vine c. 1830s

Yamada Hōgyoku made this ‘Fruit on Vine’ woodblock print during the Edo period, when urban culture was flourishing in Japan. Looking at this print, one might consider how it engages with themes of abundance and prosperity. During the Edo period, depictions of fruit were often laden with symbolic meaning. Consider the prominent display of two large fruits; their size and color might be interpreted as symbols of wealth and good fortune. Note how the uchiwa-e, or fan print, format also speaks to the cultural context of the time. Fans were not merely functional objects but also status symbols, often adorned with images reflecting the owner's taste and social standing. The vibrant colors and stylized forms of the fruit and foliage invite us to reflect on the relationship between nature and culture in Edo-period Japan, and consider how these visual representations contributed to broader social and economic narratives.