Troupial, from the Song Birds of the World series (N23) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

Curator: Here we have "Troupial," a print using colored pencil made around 1890. It's part of the "Song Birds of the World" series for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes and it's currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My immediate impression is, 'joyful acrobatic bird'! It’s all vibrant color and dynamism, though that little branch looks rather precarious for such an elegant pose. It feels like catching a fleeting moment. Curator: It's fascinating how these small cards functioned. Tobacco companies included them as collectible inserts, fostering a collecting mania that was closely tied to brand loyalty and the consumption habits of the time. It reflects a certain worldview, doesn’t it? To collect and possess exotic imagery within a readily consumable package. Editor: Absolutely! It speaks volumes about cultural appetites and colonial-era consumption. Beyond that, the execution feels surprisingly modern— that almost impressionistic rendering of the background, like a wash of light. Was this a typical artistic style for promotional materials then? Curator: It was surprisingly progressive. Though these were mass-produced items, they often employed talented artists who brought sophistication to the designs. There's an interesting tension between the refined style and the commercial purpose of advertising a habit-forming product. Editor: The colors themselves are mesmerizing—that vibrant orange against the deeper blacks and browns, plus the stark white underbelly! They must have really popped against the brown tones of the tobacco packaging and interior space where people typically smoked, making each pack feel like a little burst of artistry. Curator: The selection of the troupial itself is revealing too. It's not a common bird, so it suggests a deliberate effort to evoke the exotic, creating an aura of aspiration. It's worth considering the ethical implications, given how these cards propagated ideals related to trade, empire, and access to nature's bounty. Editor: You’re right. What a curious collision: exotic nature rendered as consumer good. Seeing that dynamism again makes me wonder how free the Troupial truly is. The artwork really encourages contemplation and questioning assumptions about access, influence, and worth. Curator: Yes, it certainly encapsulates many layers of cultural and historical discourse. I appreciate how your insights remind us to interrogate the complex motives behind these seemingly simple collectible objects.