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

Curator: Ah, the *Blennies* card from the series *Fishers and Fish*, created around 1888 by Knapp & Company. Part of a larger set commissioned for Duke brand cigarettes. What’s your take on it? Editor: Well, my immediate thought is about the depiction of femininity here. It's a curious, slightly unsettling image, with the oversized head on that very dainty, hyper-feminized body. The flower-laden hat, the little pink dress—it’s almost cartoonish. Curator: It's Japonisme in full swing. Consider how ukiyo-e prints influenced Western artists' approach to flattening perspective and decorative patterning. It reflects the Victorian era's fascination with exoticism and incorporating global aesthetics into commercial imagery. Editor: Yes, but the caricature almost borders on satire, doesn't it? I find myself wondering about the social context. Is it meant to be a celebratory portrait of idealized womanhood, or is there a subtle critique of Victorian gender roles at play? And the direct connection to tobacco consumption, it's worth examining this construction of femininity in relation to consumer culture. Curator: And those "masculine" domains of fishing are increasingly entered by women. The commercial image operates precisely within those evolving parameters of what is thinkable. The fishing rod seems to me not merely incidental, but is actually positioned to cross with that pink and flowered feminity. Editor: Indeed. The presence of that, rather pitiful, blenny caught on her fishing line provides a stark counterpoint. Does this depiction symbolize female empowerment, albeit filtered through the male gaze? Or does it reinforce existing societal hierarchies? Curator: The card itself served a purpose, it promoted cigarettes within an emergent culture of advertising. Looking closely, the watercolor lithograph gives us some insight into that historical shift into modern economies. Editor: So, beneath the surface of this seemingly simple promotional card lies a whole complex web of social, cultural, and gendered meanings. A fascinating glimpse into a very specific moment in history. Curator: Exactly, looking at the imagery used to encourage and enable various historical consumptions of tobacco and other habits also offers many other insights when looking at marketing today.