Red lotus and fish

Tang Guang Chinese
Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Not on view
Tang Guang’s name is little recorded in Chinese painting history, but this work reveals that he was a sensitive practitioner of the Piling School manner of flower painting. More than just a decorative work, this painting carries an auspicious new year’s message: in Chinese, “lotus” (lian 蓮) sounds like “year” (nian 年), while “fish” (yu 魚) sounds like “abundance” (yu 餘). Taken together, the meaning is “abundance through the years” (niannian youyu 年年有餘).

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 清 唐炗 紅蓮魚藻圖 軸
  • Title: Red lotus and fish
  • Artist: Tang Guang (Chinese, ca. 1670–1690)
  • Period: Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
  • Culture: China
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
  • Dimensions: Image: 48 1/2 × 22 7/8 in. (123.2 × 58.1 cm)
    Overall with mounting: 88 5/8 × 30 1/2 in. (225.1 × 77.5 cm)
    Overall with knobs: 88 5/8 × 34 1/4 in. (225.1 × 87 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Marie-Hélène and Guy Weill, 2015
  • Object Number: 2017.327.3
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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