Red Thunder, Blackfeet Sioux, from the American Indian Chiefs series (N2) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This chromolithograph of Red Thunder, a Blackfeet Sioux chief, was created by Allen & Ginter for cigarette cards. The composition centres on the chief's face, framed by his headdress and braids. The colors, predominantly warm browns and reds, create an earthy, almost tactile impression. The formal construction of the image draws our attention to the cultural codes at play. Note the contrast between the detailed rendering of Red Thunder’s features and the soft, blurred background. This contrast creates a visual hierarchy, focusing on the individual while simultaneously situating him within a vague, romanticized setting. The cigarette card format itself is a telling detail. Originally designed to stiffen cigarette packs and later used for advertising, its appropriation for depicting indigenous people speaks to the commodification and objectification of their image within a colonial framework. Consider how the formal elements of this card contribute to a narrative that both celebrates and exploits its subject. Art doesn't have a single meaning.