Eolian, from The World's Racers series (N32) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This is Eolian, a chromolithograph from "The World's Racers" series, made by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. These cards were produced in the late 19th century, a period marked by rapid industrialization and the rise of consumer culture. The image depicts a racehorse and jockey, symbols of wealth, leisure, and a particularly masculine form of competition. Produced in Richmond, Virginia, these cards were circulated at a time when the South was grappling with its post-Civil War identity and its complex relationship with race. Consider the implied narratives of power and control: the jockey exerting authority over the horse, the company branding its product with images of success. What alternative narratives might be obscured by this representation? How does the romanticized depiction of horse racing mask the labor and exploitation involved in the industry? This card is a reminder of how images, even those seemingly innocuous, can be embedded with cultural values and historical complexities.