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

This is a chromolithograph of a Spanish Mackerel, made by Allen & Ginter for their "Fish from American Waters" series. The fish, rendered with striking realism, presents a motif that swims through the depths of human history. Since the dawn of civilization, the fish has been a symbol of fertility, abundance, and transformation, appearing in ancient mythologies from the Near East to the Mediterranean. Consider the ichthys symbol, adopted by early Christians, or the fish-god Dagon worshipped by the Philistines; these images resonate with deep, subconscious connections to water—the source of life. Here, in this commercial card, the fish is divorced from its sacred context, yet it retains a primal allure. Just as the snake sheds its skin, the fish has resurfaced in various guises throughout time, each shedding light on the cyclical nature of symbols and their enduring presence in our collective psyche.