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

This is a promotional card from the Fish from American Waters series by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. At its heart lies an image of the moonfish, presented with a curious juxtaposition: above, the fish in its serene aquatic realm, and below, a small boat with a bright red flag that cuts a stark contrast against the ocean's blue. Consider the color red, an almost primal symbol. It pulsates through history, from prehistoric cave paintings to medieval heraldry, signifying vitality, danger, and power. In the boat's flag, red becomes a beacon, an assertion against the sea’s vastness. The moonfish itself, with its flattened body and reflective scales, appears as a mirror to the moon, a cosmic symbol of change and the subconscious. Its presence might evoke ancient myths of sea deities and the hidden depths of the psyche, where primordial emotions stir. The pairing of the red flagged boat with the moonfish connects two realms: the human world of ambition and the mysterious, unknowable depths of the sea. It speaks to the enduring human desire to navigate and comprehend the enigmatic forces of nature, a quest that continues through time, evolving yet forever rooted in our collective memory.