Flying Fish, from the Fish from American Waters series (N8) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This small card, "Flying Fish", was one of a series produced by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, printed using lithography. Think of it as an early form of advertising, trading cards included in cigarette packs, like baseball cards, only with more diverse subjects. The image is created through layers of colored inks, applied to the paper using lithographic stones. The smooth surface of the paper allows for a high level of detail. The fish seems to hover between the water and the air, captured in mid-flight with elongated, wing-like fins. The colors, carefully chosen and layered, give depth to the image, emphasizing the sleekness of the fish's body. These cards, mass-produced and widely distributed, reflect the rise of consumer culture and industrial production. They bring art to the everyday, blurring the lines between high art and popular culture. They remind us that art is not just in museums, but also in the most unexpected places.