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

Editor: This is "Herring, from Fish from American Waters series," a coloured-pencil drawing, created around 1889 for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. It’s so peculiar; there's almost a sense of…Victorian whimsy, maybe, about a fish portrayed with this almost scientific precision, yet with these strange, doll-like figures holding the image aloft. What do you make of it? Curator: Ah, yes, a most curious fish indeed. The herring takes center stage as both subject and a specimen pinned for display, yet something playful disrupts any potential seriousness. The entire composition is constructed, even theatrical. Imagine if we found ourselves as exhibits within someone else’s whimsical creation. The possibilities, albeit slightly disconcerting, offer amusement! It almost demands, “How tightly do we hold our expectations of normalcy?” What appears straightforward starts unraveling. Editor: So, it's sort of subverting expectations, even for something as seemingly mundane as a cigarette card? Curator: Precisely! It is a humble piece born out of commerce designed for popular consumption but also encourages us to consider context. Consider the era itself. Industrial expansion reshaped landscapes; species previously encountered became abstracted objects for collections or commercial sale. How different from the perspective held by indigenous communities with sustainable interconnections with these fish stocks? Each perspective reshapes our experience of the little herring; this innocent drawing invites deep consideration of history. What hidden stories do other so-called 'mundane' everyday items withhold? Editor: I never thought I’d feel challenged by a picture of a herring! Now I am pondering the entire consumer-culture relationship, hidden meanings and inherent power. Curator: Excellent! Our herring serves its higher purpose. It offers reflection while providing illumination that goes far beyond commerce or our preconceived expectations.