Bluefish Print

Bluefish is a depiction of a mature bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) with close taxonomical detail, made from the original pen and ink illustration by Kenneth T. Murphy in 2006. The original illustration currently resides at Street & Company, a top-rated restaurant in Portland, Maine, and includes custom hand-made and hand-set typography of the title and specimen details. Each of the scales were individually drawn, with over 8,000 scales representing the accurate taxonomy of the visible side of the Bluefish.

Designed in 2019, this Bluefish print is a salute to the bluefish, commonly called a ‘Blue’ – a venerable and unique pelagic species that is well known by salt-water sport and casual fishermen. Globally, this fish has no close relatives and it can be found in almost all temperate sea waters around the world. The inherent beauty of the lines of the fish, the fierceness of the jaws and razor-sharp teeth, the meaty (yet oily) flesh and the seemingly random nature of its whereabouts – often traveling in large, migratory schools in locations that can vary greatly – make this fish a sought-after prize. It is considered a staple in many cultures and a delicacy in others.

The accompanying type in the print is an homage to the classic forms of vintage typography and letterforms that were seen throughout the Northeast from the 18th century through the early-mid 20th century on storefronts, ship bows and transoms, shipping crates, can and jar labels, flags and banners, and pretty much anything that was made to visually inform – all painted or etched by hand.