Rhea, from the Birds of the Tropics series (N5) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This small lithograph of a Rhea comes from a series produced for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. These cards, printed on thin paper stock, were included in cigarette packs as a marketing tool and a small gift for consumers. The lithographic process allowed for mass production, aligning perfectly with the burgeoning consumer culture of the late 19th century. Each card, including this image of a Rhea bird, involved skilled labor in design and printing, yet the end product was inexpensive and widely distributed. The visual language used here – flat planes of colour, simplified forms, and a focus on the exotic – served to create an appealing image for the brand, whilst also subtly educating consumers about far-flung locales. Such cards were a means of circulating images and knowledge, embedding them within everyday habits of consumption. By focusing on the processes and context of production, we see how even seemingly simple images like this one reflect broader social and economic forces, blurring the boundaries between art, commerce, and popular culture.