The Classic Painted Grouper Series

In the dawn of the 19th century, as Charles Darwin was unraveling the mysteries of species in distant South America, another explorer of nature—Philipp Franz von Siebold—was quietly crafting a masterpiece of discovery in East Asia. Guided by the rigor of Linnaean taxonomy and an insatiable curiosity, Siebold embarked on a mission to illuminate a world unknown to the West.

Through painstaking observation and exquisite artistry, he created over 300 detailed illustrations that transcended mere science. These works were eventually bound together in Fauna Japonica, published in Amsterdam—a rare jewel that unveiled the vibrant and diverse life of East Asia to European scholars for the first time.
More than just documentation, Siebold’s collection stands as a story told through brushstrokes that continue to inspire wonder centuries later.

The three groupers are respectively:

• 🐟 Serranus Poëcilonotus – One of the premium species of grouper, known for its high value. It is distributed from the Red Sea and Western Indian Ocean to the central Atlantic, as well as along the coasts of mainland China and Taiwan. Its flesh is delicate yet firm, and when served as sashimi, it offers an unexpectedly exquisite taste that leaves a lasting impression.
• 🐟 Serranus Octocinctus – Found in the Indian Ocean near Somalia and South Africa, as well as in the Western Pacific from Japan to Australia and New Zealand, including the waters off Taiwan in China.
• 🐟 Serranus Tsirimenara – A tropical Western Pacific species, distributed from Indonesia to Papua New Guinea, and also found in Japan and Korea. It inhabits soft-bottom sea areas at depths of 40–235 meters.