Eel, from the Fish from American Waters series (N8) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

Made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, this small lithograph from the Fish from American Waters series presents an eel in striking detail against a pale backdrop. The eel's sinuous form dominates the composition, its body arcing gracefully to fill the frame. The artist uses a blend of muted greens, browns, and blues to capture the eel's iridescent skin, creating an almost tactile sense of its texture. The careful arrangement of light and shadow enhances the three-dimensionality, inviting us to consider its material presence. This image destabilizes the conventional boundaries between art and commerce. Its creation as a cigarette card inserts it into the everyday, challenging traditional notions of artistic value. The eel itself, a creature of the depths, becomes a signifier of both natural wonder and commercial enterprise. Note how the formal qualities of this lithograph transcend its original purpose, inviting us to reflect on the complex relationship between art, nature, and consumer culture.