Puma, from Quadrupeds series (N41) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is "Puma" from the Quadrupeds series made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. These cards were popular in the late 19th century, a time when industrialization and westward expansion deeply impacted both the natural environment and Indigenous populations. The card presents a dual narrative. Below, a puma is depicted in its habitat, seemingly wild and untamed. Above, an Indigenous hunter takes aim with a bow and arrow, while an axe looms with a pink ribbon. This juxtaposition speaks volumes about the era's attitudes towards nature and civilization. The romanticized image of the hunter, contrasted with the impending threat of the axe—symbolizing resource extraction and colonial expansion—reflects a complex tension. Are they intending to demonstrate respect for nature through hunting? Or is it a claim of dominance? The puma, caught between these forces, embodies the vulnerability of the natural world in the face of human ambition. It reminds us of the stories and identities erased by the march of progress.