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

This “Bluefish” is from a series made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. It is an advertisement printed on paper, a very different approach to art making than painting or sculpture. Rather than celebrating individual genius, this image reflects an industrial process, conceived to promote mass consumption. The chromolithographic printing has allowed manufacturers to include collectible cards in cigarette packs, and they became popular at the time. Take a close look and you'll notice the division of labor in the image itself. The upper half of the image is given over to a depiction of the fish. Below, there is a boatful of fishermen at work on a choppy sea. This card collapses the agency of nature with human endeavor, and transforms it into a small token, a collectible card inserted in a cigarette pack. Ultimately, it prompts us to consider how materials, making, and context shape our understanding of art, challenging distinctions between fine art and everyday objects.