Red and Blue Macaw, from the Birds of the Tropics series (N5) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This is an chromolithograph of a Red and Blue Macaw, part of the Birds of the Tropics series, created for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The composition is dominated by the vibrant plumage of the macaw, its scarlet feathers contrasted sharply against deep blue, visually arresting and designed to capture the eye. Notice how the meticulous detail in the feathers creates a sense of texture, a tangible quality that is at odds with the flat surface of the print. This tension between depth and flatness is further complicated by the layering of colours, where hues bleed into each other, suggesting a tropical ambience. The structure of this image goes beyond mere representation. It's a study in the interplay between the natural and the artificial. By isolating the macaw against a backdrop that is both lush and yet strangely artificial, the print destabilizes the boundary between the real and the constructed, inviting us to consider how images shape our perception of nature. Ultimately, the image functions as a sign, encoding layers of meaning related to commerce, exoticism, and the representation of the natural world.