Gurnard, from the series Fishers and Fish (N74) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph of a Gurnard fish, was made by Knapp & Company for Duke brand cigarettes. It's a small card, printed using a newly industrialized color printing process. Chromolithography involved creating a series of lithographic stones, one for each color, then printing them in sequence to build up a complete image. Here, look at the way the delicate layers of color create depth and texture, from the wispy reeds in the background to the elaborate patterns on the fish. The process was labor-intensive, demanding skilled artisans to prepare the stones and operate the printing presses, yet it allowed for mass production. Cigarette cards like this one were essentially freebies, enticing consumers with collectible images. The Gurnard, with its whimsical combination of a woman's body and the head of a fish, reflects the era's fascination with hybrid forms and visual spectacle. It also speaks to the blurring of art and commerce in an age of mass production, where even the humblest object could be elevated through color, design, and skilled manufacturing.