Accession Number
1964/1.98

Title
Eggplant and Calligraphy

Artist(s)
Ōtagaki Rengetsu

Object Creation Date
19th century

Medium & Support
fan painting matted for framing, ink on paper

Dimensions
5 5/8 in x 18 9/16 in (14.3 cm x 47.2 cm);22 1/4 in x 28 5/8 in (56.52 cm x 72.71 cm)

Credit Line
Museum purchase made possible by the Margaret Watson Parker Art Collection Fund

Subject matter
Best known as a poet, but she was also a talented potter, inscribing her poems on her wares, which were generally tea bowls or teapots of unglazed clay. Painted in a charming and delicate way, somewhat in the Shijō manner.
Roberts, Laurance Page, and John M. Rosenfield. A Dictionary of Japanese Artists: Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Prints, Lacquer. Weatherhill, 2000.

Physical Description
Yo no naka ni               A fine example
mi no nariidete             of success to emulate
omou koto                    A lowely eggplant
nasu wa medetaki        ripens and brings forth fruit
tameshi narikeri           accomplishing its goal in life

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Primary Object Type
fan painting

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
album leaf
calligraphy
fans (costume accessories)
still lifes
vegetables