Carp, from the series Fishers and Fish (N74) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

This is a chromolithograph of a carp, part of the Fishers and Fish series (N74) made for Duke brand cigarettes by Knapp & Company. The initial visual impression of the fish against pale vertical reeds creates a sense of depth. What’s striking is how the artist balances representation with pure formalism. Note the subtle gradations of color: the dark green on the upper body, the yellow on the fish's belly. Observe how color establishes volume as it moves around the fish’s form. The print's formal structure destabilizes established meanings, creating a tension between naturalistic depiction and the print's artificial construction. This tension invites an interpretation of the artwork as a commentary on the artificiality inherent in the act of representation itself. The image is not simply a window onto the world but a constructed sign. Ultimately, this chromolithograph functions both aesthetically and as part of a cultural and philosophical discourse on how we perceive and represent nature through art.