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

This is a card titled "Shark" from the "Fish from American Waters" series, created by Allen & Ginter for their cigarettes. These cards, like many of the time, reflect a late 19th-century fascination with categorizing the natural world. Yet, consider how this portrayal of the shark intersects with prevailing cultural narratives. During this period, sharks were often demonized, embodying primal fear and the unknown depths of the ocean. This image, distributed with a product linked to pleasure and leisure, subtly reinforces a sense of human dominance over nature. Look at the seahorse perched above the shark, almost mocking it. This juxtaposition plays into established hierarchies, with the 'exotic' seahorse seemingly elevated above the 'threatening' shark. These cards weren't just about information; they were about shaping perceptions, reinforcing existing power structures and societal anxieties. They invite us to consider how images, even those seemingly innocuous, contribute to constructing our understanding of both the natural world and our place within it.