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

This is a chromolithograph of a Whitefish, made by Allen & Ginter for their Fish from American Waters series. Here, the composition is strikingly simple. The Whitefish is placed within a rectangular frame, set against a pale backdrop filled with fishing accoutrements. The fish is depicted with a focus on its form and texture. The scales are meticulously rendered, catching the light to create a sense of depth and realism. The color palette is restrained. The use of the frame, however, subtly disrupts the naturalism of the image. It places the fish within a kind of display case, transforming it into an object of study and consumption. Consider this work not just as a representation of nature but as a comment on how we categorize, consume, and ultimately, commodify the natural world. The Whitefish becomes a signifier, caught between its natural state and its cultural value.