Hairy Bear, Winnebagoes, from the American Indian Chiefs series (N2) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This small chromolithograph entitled "Hairy Bear, Winnebagoes" was produced by Allen & Ginter as part of the American Indian Chiefs series for their cigarette brands. The composition is dominated by the frontal portrait of Hairy Bear. Note how the artist uses texture to convey social meanings. The man’s rich coloring and the details of his traditional attire—particularly the fur and bear claw necklace—contrast sharply with the flat, pale background. The textured representation of Hairy Bear is laden with cultural meaning related to the man's identity. In contrast, the simplified background flattens the visual space, almost erasing his physical and cultural context. The work’s graphic style and serial format flattens Hairy Bear into a sign—an example of how visual culture can reduce complex cultural identities into easily consumed images, ripe for commodification. This simple card becomes a site for exploring historical and cultural dynamics.