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

Editor: This is “John Dory Fish,” a lithograph from 1888 by Knapp & Company, part of the Fishers and Fish series for Duke brand cigarettes. It’s quite a quirky image—almost surreal with the oversized head of the woman and the very real-looking fish. What cultural symbols jump out at you? Curator: The blending of a fashionably dressed woman with a realistically rendered fish immediately speaks to the symbolism of transformation and the mutable nature of identity. Note how the fishing rod pierces the boundary between the human and aquatic realms. What could that signify, do you think? Editor: Perhaps the fishing rod represents dominance or maybe a kind of...forced connection? It's almost aggressive, in a way. Curator: Precisely. Consider how fish often symbolize abundance and fertility in art history, especially within genre paintings like Ukiyo-e. But here, the woman isn't passively receiving nature's bounty; she's actively extracting it, skewering it in a way. Is she a benevolent fisher, or is there an underlying aggression related to that piercing act and a cultural need for the "capture" of the symbol? How does that resonate with ideas of consumerism linked with the advertisement for Duke Cigarettes? Editor: That's a compelling connection. It almost feels like the cigarette is another kind of "catch." Both provide a kind of momentary satisfaction... and maybe a similar kind of symbolic piercing. Curator: Exactly! The commercial context transforms traditional symbols. The print utilizes symbols of prosperity to elevate Duke Cigarettes by associating with an alluring lifestyle and its inherent power dynamics. Are the brand cigarettes meant to bring abundance in this symbolic context? Editor: It’s fascinating how much depth can be hidden in something that seems so simple, even cartoonish, at first glance. I never would have made those connections. Curator: Recognizing these cultural echoes allows us to interpret the complex, layered meaning of everyday images from the past and realize the connection to our lives.