The Banded Aracari Toucan, from Birds of the Tropics series (N38) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

Curator: This image of "The Banded Aracari Toucan" is from a series of prints published around 1889 by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. Editor: Wow, the colors are so vibrant! The composition is really interesting, like a little tropical scene captured within this small rectangle. There's almost something reminiscent of Ukiyo-e in how the scene is staged. Curator: Yes, these were distributed as collectible cards within cigarette packs. Allen & Ginter were actually quite known for these series, often depicting exotic birds or scenes of nature. It shows the 19th century fascination with natural history. Editor: And the way that they paired this image with an advertisement for tobacco feels kind of absurd today, but also makes a sharp commentary about who had the privilege to access these global networks of trade. Curator: Exactly! Tobacco was becoming increasingly associated with leisure and luxury, connecting to ideas of exploration and travel, the exoticism. These images acted as small windows onto those distant worlds. It normalizes commodity fetishism by binding exotic and gendered stereotypes to cigarette cards, it served the brand well to reproduce this symbolic relationship. Editor: Seeing it now, there's also this tension between the romanticized view of nature and the problematic history embedded in the act of collecting and possessing such images during that time. We can see it through an eco-critical lens, understanding that such industries impact climate change, biodiversity, and indigenous and disenfranchised populations, with race and gender inextricably tied together. It also gives more insight on tobacco consumption as an industry. Curator: I agree. What was considered beautiful or interesting then may not align with our values now. Editor: Definitely makes you think about the changing perceptions of these things! Curator: Indeed, thank you for lending us your perspective. Editor: Always happy to explore the intersections between art and the social world!