Sunfish, from Fish from American Waters series (N39) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

This is a Sunfish chromolithograph from the "Fish from American Waters" series, created by Allen & Ginter for cigarette cards. These cards emerged during a time of immense industrial growth and burgeoning consumer culture. What's striking about this image is its simultaneous celebration of nature and its commodification. The sunfish, rendered in vibrant colors, is presented almost as a trophy, its image circulating alongside tobacco products. The inclusion of figures in canoes subtly evokes ideas of leisure and the "great outdoors," both of which were becoming increasingly marketable concepts. But it's impossible to ignore the context of these images. These promotional items were overwhelmingly targeted towards white, middle-class men, and the representation of leisure activities often reinforced existing social hierarchies. This seemingly innocent image of a sunfish becomes a window into a world of commerce, leisure, and the construction of identity in a rapidly changing America.