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

This ‘Porgy’ was printed by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brand in the late 19th century. Note the fish, rendered with meticulous detail, floating in the center of the frame. Since antiquity, the fish has been a powerful symbol, deeply embedded in our collective consciousness, traversing cultures and epochs. In early Christian iconography, the fish, or ‘ichthys’, became an emblem of faith. The same symbol echoes in ancient pagan rituals, often associated with fertility and abundance. Yet, here, this common Porgy is divorced from overtly religious symbolism. We see it presented as a specimen, a mere commodity of American waters. What psychological currents might be at play here, as the sacred morphs into the profane, as reverence gives way to commercial interest? The fish motif, once a potent symbol of spiritual sustenance, is now reduced to a collectible card inserted in cigarette packs, a testament to how symbols can be appropriated, recontextualized, and drained of their original significance. A reminder that symbols, like fish in the sea, are ever-evolving, their meanings shifting with the tides of history and culture.