Painting of a baby hugging a carp.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PAINTING "BABY HOLDING A CARP" Material: Engraved lacquer - Size: 50 x 60 cm Adapted from the Dong Ho folk painting "Baby Holding a Carp," this painting expresses the joy of embracing a plump carp in the new year. In Vietnamese folklore, the image of the fish symbolizes literacy, learning, and career advancement. Besides symbolizing education and success, the carp also represents a prosperous, abundant, and comfortable life. The painting is often hung during Tet (Vietnamese New Year). The carp, a highly agile fish capable of leaping over the Dragon Gate to transform into a dragon, also symbolizes promotion and advancement in work, as well as perseverance and patience in achieving success. Furthermore, in Chinese, the word for fish is "yu," which is pronounced similarly to "yu" (meaning abundance), and the image of a fish often combined with other patterns can be interpreted as "you yu," meaning "having," or wealth: having more than enough to eat and live comfortably. Therefore, the carp is considered a symbol of wealth and prestige.