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

This is a chromolithograph of a Flying Fish, made as part of Allen & Ginter's Fish from American Waters series. The work presents a fish with feathered wings, set against a backdrop of pale blue and green to represent the sky and sea. The composition is bisected; the upper half features the fish, while the lower half contains birds and a mountain. This division creates an intriguing juxtaposition between the expected and the unexpected. The lithographic technique allows for smooth gradations of color, which soften the potential visual shock of a fish in flight. The attention to detail in the scales and feathers enhances the image's surreal quality. The artist uses this formal strategy to challenge fixed categories by combining elements that do not naturally co-exist, prompting reflection on how we perceive and classify the natural world.