Black-Breasted Red Game Cock, from the Prize and Game Chickens series (N20) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1891

This is a chromolithograph of a Black-Breasted Red Game Cock, produced by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette packs. These cards, popular in the late 19th century United States, offer a glimpse into the cultural values of the Gilded Age. Beyond mere advertisement, consider the social implications of depicting a gamecock. Cockfighting, though often clandestine, was a widespread pastime, particularly among working-class men. The image speaks to notions of masculinity, competition, and even aggression. The ‘Prize and Game Chickens series’ reflects a fascination with selective breeding and animal husbandry that mirrors broader social ideas about eugenics. Understanding this image requires looking beyond its surface appeal. Old newspapers, sporting journals, and social histories can reveal the complex web of meanings it held for its original audience. Approaching art through this lens, we recognize it as a product of – and a commentary on – its time.