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signed and dated Victor Gilbert/1881 (lower right) oil on canvas During his lifetime, Victor Gilbert established himself as the premier painter of the contemporary Parisian marketplace. He achieved considerable success at the 1880 Salon when he was awarded a second class medal for his painting entitled A Corner of the Fish Market, Morning (Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lille). Gilbert's interest in the activities of the Paris fish markets in Les Halles likely prompted him to investigate the market's precursor, the harbor. The fish harbor and market became Gilbert's most prized settings and Sorting the Fish is a detailed example of his ability to capture the intricacies of fishing culture. After the fishermen have unloaded their daily catch, the women sort the various types of fish, selecting the best for their market baskets. As they work, the fishermen talk in the background, discussing their catch and perhaps debating the best locations for the next day. Always striking in Gilbert's fishing scenes, whether at the market or along the shore, is his exactitude in capturing the sheen and opacity of the bodies and scales of his aquatic subjects.