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1863

Sea Bream (Tai)

Shiokawa Bunrin

Japanese, 1808 - 1877

The sea bream, or tai in Japanese, is considered a symbol of good luck because of the word association with omedetai, or "auspicious, congratulatory." Tai is served as the main dish at festive occasions such as weddings. The artist's inscription on the box for this painting states that he presented this tai for the sixtieth birthday of one of his friends.

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Shiokawa Bunrin, Sea Bream (Tai), 1863 | Philadelphia Art Museum