Dark Brahma Cockerel, from the Prize and Game Chickens series (N20) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1891

This is an image of a Dark Brahma Cockerel, part of the Prize and Game Chickens series made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The composition is immediately striking, dominated by the robust figure of the cockerel. Notice how the artist uses contrasting colors, setting the dark plumage against the softer, diffused background. The texture is suggested through a delicate use of line and stippling, creating a sense of depth within the compact space. It’s fascinating how such a small image encapsulates larger ideas about value and representation. As a trade card, the image functions within a semiotic system that assigns value not just to the depicted object—the prize-winning chicken—but also to the cultural codes it represents. The very act of categorizing and displaying these breeds speaks to the emerging scientific and social structures of the time. Consider the aesthetic choices here. The image captures attention through its careful construction. It invites ongoing interpretation and reflects the values of its time.