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

Curator: This print from 1889, titled "King Bird of Paradise," comes from the "Birds of the Tropics" series, created by Allen & Ginter for their cigarette brands. It employs gouache, colored pencil, and printmaking techniques. Editor: Oh, wow! It’s vibrant, yet feels like a faded memory. The colours evoke a hazy tropical daydream, like something plucked from a storybook or a forgotten advertisement. Curator: These cards were originally designed as collectibles to stiffen cigarette packs, an early form of marketing deeply rooted in consumer culture. Consider how the exotic was packaged and consumed alongside tobacco. Editor: It’s a tiny window onto a bigger world—literally! But what about the Japonisme influence? The flattened perspective and decorative flair on the bird's tail feathers scream Japanese printmaking. There is even a touch of Art Nouveau swirling around in there. Curator: Exactly! Japonisme and Orientalism were fashionable during that period, heavily influencing art and design. This card represents an appropriation, and commodification, of those aesthetics for mass consumption, a sign of growing globalization, too. Editor: It's pretty wild to imagine folks collecting these then tossing them in the trash as they puffed away. I’d say these little drawings carry a heavy history, with commerce literally packaged inside them. It seems pretty sad now considering habitat loss. Curator: The print is a reflection of its time, showing the intersection of commerce, art, and scientific interest, and consumer appetite for exotic natural history. These illustrations highlight cultural biases through visual representation. Editor: Seeing how it highlights humanity's simultaneous curiosity about and exploitation of the natural world really hits home. Despite its small size, "King Bird of Paradise" stirs up some BIG questions!