Sun Bittern, from the Birds of the Tropics series (N5) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

Editor: We're looking at "Sun Bittern" from the Birds of the Tropics series, made in 1889 by Allen & Ginter, using watercolor and print. It's surprisingly detailed for what I understand was included in a cigarette pack. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: This image, meant for mass consumption through cigarette cards, played a role in shaping public perceptions of the "exotic." How did companies like Allen & Ginter contribute to a visual understanding - or misunderstanding - of tropical environments and their fauna? Were these images intended to be educational, or were they simply a marketing tool? Editor: I suppose mostly marketing, though maybe they thought they were being educational as a byproduct? What do you make of the bird itself? Curator: The Sun Bittern is presented here divorced from a more complex ecological context. Consider how the depiction simplifies the realities of a species and its habitat for a consumer audience. Are there aesthetic choices – the colors, the composition – that seem to further this simplification? Editor: Definitely. The background landscape is quite generic, almost like stage dressing. And the colours seem vibrant, almost *too* vibrant. Curator: Precisely. That vibrancy contributes to its allure, making the exotic bird a desirable object, almost a commodity, alongside the cigarettes themselves. What's fascinating is the merging of consumerism with representations of the natural world. Does that interplay change how we should view art, even art like this which seems simple? Editor: It really puts it in perspective. I had just thought it was a pretty picture of a bird. I'll definitely think more critically about how images circulate. Curator: And that awareness makes looking at historical works more vital than ever! It encourages you to view these images as cultural artifacts, laden with social meaning.