Orangoutang, from the Quadrupeds series (N21) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is a collectible card of an Orangoutang, made by Allen & Ginter for their series of cigarette cards. Produced during a period of increased global exploration and scientific discovery, images like this reflect the 19th-century fascination with exotic animals and far-off lands. But these kinds of images were not neutral, and often served to reinforce a sense of Western superiority and the ‘otherness’ of the non-Western world. Here, the orangutan is presented as an object of curiosity, distanced from its natural habitat. The card format itself turns a living being into a commodity, packaged alongside a product associated with leisure and luxury. Consider the emotional impact of this representation. Does it evoke empathy, or does it perpetuate a sense of detachment from the natural world? This card offers a glimpse into the complex ways that culture, commerce, and our understanding of the natural world intersect.