Burbot, from the series Fishers and Fish (N74) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

Editor: This is "Burbot, from the series Fishers and Fish," made in 1888 by Knapp & Company. It's a lithograph print, and what strikes me most is the slightly bizarre yet charming caricature style. It's so different from what I usually expect to see in art from this period. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: Immediately, I am drawn to the exaggerated features and their symbolic weight. Notice how the disproportionately large head, almost a visual hyperbole, dominates the composition. Heads, as symbols, hold intellect, awareness, selfhood and reason. Do you think her attire informs how the artist or culture felt about working-class individuals? Editor: Yes, I think so. The way her exaggerated features are juxtaposed against what appears to be fancier attire feels...almost mocking? Curator: Precisely. Consider how 'low-brow' subject matter becomes intertwined with aspirational cultural references, mimicking fine art portraiture conventions while simultaneously undermining it through caricature. What cultural memory is invoked by rendering her a 'type' rather than an individual? It invites contemplation of social perceptions and stereotypes, and it’s crucial to dissect those elements and the psychological impact the image leaves upon the viewer. How do those early stereotypes persist today? Editor: That’s a fascinating point; the visual shortcut certainly reveals underlying societal biases, doesn’t it? The fish becomes almost incidental in a way, more about her social persona. Curator: The "burbot" itself is also interesting. It grounds her in a specific activity. Fish as symbols go way back. Often related to plenty. How is this subverted here by linking her to this very specific, and not necessarily celebrated, species of fish? Editor: I didn’t consider the particular fish; I just thought "fish". That totally changes my understanding; thank you. Curator: It enriches the layers, doesn't it? Now think about our relationship to imagery and meaning as viewers. How much has changed or stayed the same?