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

Editor: Here we have "Sturgeon," a coloured-pencil drawing and print from the "Fish from American Waters" series, created around 1889 by Allen & Ginter. It looks like it's part of a card or collection, given the size and layout. What first strikes me is its graphic quality—the sturgeon is so clearly presented. How do you interpret this work? Curator: This small card speaks volumes about cultural exchange and evolving perceptions. Look at the flat perspective, the decorative borders, and the stylized representation of the fish itself. Does anything strike you? Editor: Well, it feels quite different from typical Western scientific illustrations of the time, a bit more stylized... Curator: Exactly. This is Japonisme at play, a fascination with Japanese art that swept the Western world. Ukiyo-e prints, with their bold lines and flat compositions, profoundly impacted artists and commercial design. This sturgeon isn't just a fish; it’s a symbol appropriated into a visual vocabulary informed by the East. But what else could the Sturgeon represent, if not purely naturalistically? Editor: Hmmm, power, maybe? It does seem like a creature with... armor, of sorts? Curator: Indeed, notice its primordial qualities, juxtaposed against this new "American" context, signifying novelty but referencing antiquity. This embodies the cultural ambition of that era, doesn't it? To both define the American landscape while embracing global artistry. Editor: It’s fascinating how this little card captures so much cultural context. Curator: It's a potent reminder that even the smallest images can carry significant cultural weight and symbolize this fusion between cultures, changing memories and historical meanings.