Red Bird, Chippeway, from the American Indian Chiefs series (N2) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

This small chromolithograph of Red Bird, a Chippewa chief, was one of a series of cards produced by Allen & Ginter, a cigarette company, as collectibles in the late 19th century. These cards, while seemingly innocuous, speak volumes about the social and cultural landscape of the United States at that time. They reflect a growing fascination with, and simultaneous othering of, Native American cultures. The image itself, with its romanticized depiction of Red Bird, presents a constructed version of Native identity that served the interests of the dominant culture. Consider the context: westward expansion, the Indian Wars, and the forced assimilation policies of the US government. These cards were made and traded within a society that was actively dispossessing Native peoples of their land and culture. Understanding the power dynamics at play requires consulting historical documents, photographs, and, most importantly, the voices and perspectives of the Chippewa people themselves. Art history, at its best, engages with these complex layers of meaning.