From the Dogs series (N47) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1887 - 1891

This is a promotional card from the ‘Dogs’ series, made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Produced at a time when consumer culture was rapidly expanding, these cards were inserted into cigarette packs as a marketing strategy, a practice which also tells us about the normalization of smoking in society. The image depicts a Newfoundland dog, a breed known for its size and strength. Dogs, like this Newfoundland, often served as symbols of status and leisure for the upper classes. The choice to feature such a breed subtly aligns the cigarette brand with notions of luxury and affluence. What does it mean to use animals in such a way? The use of animals as a vehicle for a political message, or a marketing campaign opens up questions about our relationship to the natural world.