In Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s piece, Vegetables in a Bowl or the Gardener the face of a man is recreated by an assortment of root vegetables said to be found in the subject’s garden. Arcimboldo’s use of vegetables to reconstruct a man’s highlights the role of food in human life: it is sustenance and essential. This painting is an artistic rendition of the well known saying “you are what you eat.” In this piece, man’s reliance on food is two fold. Food is portrayed as the source and product of man. Like a perfect cycle, food sustains life and can be the primary by-product of life, especially for those in agriculture.
Another perspective to take away from this piece is that food can be art, communication and visually manipulating even raw. Even though it was painted in the late sixteenth century, food has not changed much in nearly 420 years. Most of the vegetables in the picture are easily recognizable. But the biggest takeaway is that food is not just a product to be sold or consumed. Food is a source of entertainment and can even support a a sense of humor. For others like artists, it is a creative outlet. Food has many hats outside of the dining table.