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

Editor: Here we have "Brent Goose, from the Game Birds series" printed in 1889 by Allen & Ginter. It's quite a striking image; the goose seems captured mid-squawk. What symbols or ideas jump out at you? Curator: Well, initially I see the bird, presented as a symbol of wildness and freedom, being framed, almost captured, within these ornate, geometric borders. The bird itself is active, vocal, and seems poised for action. It also suggests a specific kind of masculinity through hunting. Does the packaging alter your view of the image? Editor: It definitely makes me consider the context! That is quite the contrast, this wild creature contained in such a structured space. Does this contrast suggest anything further about the time period, and its symbolism? Curator: Absolutely. The late 19th century witnessed growing industrialization coupled with a fascination for the 'untamed.' Images like these helped promote both; consumption through collecting, alongside a nostalgic longing for a vanishing natural world. The very act of enclosing this wild creature transforms it into a collectable object. Notice also how the inclusion of cattails and water signifies landscape – an indication of habitat that tames the animal, rendering it passive and docile. Editor: It's interesting how the seemingly innocent image becomes loaded with deeper meaning when you consider it as part of a series of collectible cards! Curator: Exactly! These images offer an archive of cultural desires and anxieties. Each image speaks volumes about how we understand nature, masculinity, and consumption in America. The fact it comes with a cigarette brand completes a complex cultural picture! Editor: I never would have considered the packaging holding so much information about American society in the late 1800s! This was illuminating!