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

This small chromolithograph, part of Allen & Ginter’s "Fish from American Waters" series, presents a Sheepshead fish in remarkable detail for its size. Printed on paper, it was one of a set of collectible cards included in cigarette packs. The technique of chromolithography allowed for mass production, using multiple lithographic stones, each applying a different color to achieve a vibrant, layered image. Here, you can see the scales rendered with a delicate stippling effect. The process transformed images into commodities, vividly illustrating fish species for a wide audience. This was an era when commercial interests drove the popularization of natural history. What could be more ordinary than paper and ink? And yet, they effectively connected consumer culture, knowledge, and the natural world. It prompts us to consider how everyday materials and making processes contribute to our understanding of art, and the wider world.