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18th century

Man Eating Sweet Potatoes

Ike Taiga

Japanese, 1723 - 1776

Using both dark ink and ink thinned with water, Taiga expressively depicts a man happily munching on his meal, and even the effects of eating so many sweet potatoes on his digestive system. Taiga inscribed the verse:

He who wishes to be unpopular
Should sweet potatoes eat.
He who desires to be successful
Must his well-being guard.

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