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

Editor: Here we have “Mackerel” by Allen & Ginter, from 1889, created as a cigarette card from the series "Fish from American Waters." It is a drawing that uses colored pencil. Initially, the composition strikes me as quite unusual, sort of like a fragmented narrative. What stands out to you in this piece? Curator: The composition does present an intriguing visual arrangement. Note how the central image of the mackerel, rendered with meticulous detail, is framed by seemingly disparate vignettes. The materiality of colored pencil lends a unique texture, almost blurring the distinction between the drawing and its printed reproduction. Editor: It's interesting how you focus on the framing and texture. Why do you find that important? Curator: The frame, internal to the image, serves to isolate and elevate the mackerel. It's less about narrative, more about pure presentation. Consider how the texture, achieved through the medium itself, operates in a semiotic capacity. Editor: I see. So, the way the mackerel is drawn, plus how that rendering gets presented in the larger frame…What might this tell us about the overall structure of meaning? Curator: Precisely. The graphic depiction transcends mere representation of the animal. It engages us on formal and material levels. Observe, for instance, how the tonality influences our engagement, and even subtly conveys a particular "feel." Editor: That helps me see past just the image itself! I appreciate how you noticed the nuances in the image creation that gives it all its symbolic power. Curator: My pleasure. By isolating these elements, we begin to appreciate how formal structure and material agency contribute meaning in this artwork.