Bean art is a form of vegetable art that features beans as the main subject. The many varieties of beans give these artworks a singularity and colorful appeal that is rarely seen in other examples of culinary art featuring only one type of food.
Many culture specific prints use beans in their depictions of different times and cultures. For example, works such as 'The Beaneater' reveal a Mexican man enjoying a well-earned meal. Likewise, American paintings depicting the Great Depression also feature beans, which were one of the primary staples of the American diet at that time. Thanks to these factors, bean art has become more mainstream than ever before among art enthusiasts.
Different types of kitchen paintings also employ beans as their primary subject. These vegetable paintings generally show beans as they're being prepared for a meal, or show them cooking. However, bean art often includes peas, as well. Although peas aren't technically beans, they are legumes, which are vegetables that grow in pods. Works such as 'Old Fashioned Peas' by Kimberly Poloson are typical of this type of kitchen print.
Photography is a highly popular medium when creating bean art. These works are generally evenly lit and work to show the variety and diverse nature of this type of legume. These works usually feature other aspects of kitchen or culinary art, such as containers, strainers, or cutting boards. However, the primary subject of these photographs is generally the legumes themselves because of the differences in size, shape, and color represented in each bean type.
