Family Portrait (Sardine Tin Art)

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Family Portrait is one of only three round tins created by Ortaire de Coupigny, distinguished not only by its format but by its unusually deep profile—5.5 cm high (approximately 2.2 inches). With a diameter of 16.5 cm (6.5 inches), this cylindrical volume sets the stage for a quietly humorous tableau: three painted fish, their scales rendered in vivid color and suspended in resin, appear posed like a family in a portrait studio.
 
The oversized head of the largest fish fills much of the circular field, while the two smaller fish below cluster near it, adding a sense of intimacy and narrative. Their arrangement, reinforced by the container’s depth, gives the piece a sculptural presence and a subtle emotional rhythm. Through this work, Ortaire de Coupigny once again turns an everyday object into a playful, painterly scene—rich with texture, stillness, and irony.