Cormorant, from the Game Birds series (N13) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This is a chromolithograph of a cormorant from the "Game Birds" series, produced in the United States by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brands. Such cards were immensely popular in the late 19th century. Consider how the image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. By the late 1800s, mass media and advertising created an image culture that was accessible to many, not just a wealthy elite. How was this image intended to function? Was it aimed at sportsmen, nature-lovers, or a more general audience? Perhaps more importantly, how did the mass production of images influence people’s perception of nature and their relationship with wildlife? Did images of wild birds affect the hunting of them? The image's existence poses questions about the institutional histories of advertising, about the role of commercial images in the construction of cultural values, and about the use of images to promote products. Studying period publications, advertisements, and business records could tell us more.