Red and Blue Macaw, from Birds of the Tropics series (N38) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

This is a Red and Blue Macaw chromolithograph, created as part of the Birds of the Tropics series for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. These cards, distributed with tobacco products, speak volumes about the cultural and economic exchanges of the time. Produced during an era marked by increasing industrialization and expansion, these cards highlight a fascination with exotic and far-off places. The image exoticizes the bird, reducing it to a symbol of the tropics and a collectible commodity, while the advertisement promotes the consumption of tobacco, a product linked to complex colonial histories and labor practices. Consider the juxtaposition of the vibrant macaw against the backdrop of Richmond cigarettes – what does it mean to pair an image of natural beauty with an industry that thrived on exploitation? These cards not only reflect the aesthetic preferences of the time, but also the underlying power dynamics that shaped global trade and cultural perceptions.