Buff Cochin China Cock, from the Prize and Game Chickens series (N20) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1891

This is a chromolithograph of a Buff Cochin China Cock by Allen & Ginter. Immediately, one is struck by the figure's imposing presence within the frame, achieved through careful attention to scale and proportion. The bird is rendered with an almost sculptural quality, its mass and volume emphasized. Consider how the artist uses color to delineate form, with the warm, buff tones of the plumage creating a sense of depth and texture. This isn't simply a literal depiction of a chicken; rather, the bird functions as a sign, imbued with cultural associations of rural life. The very act of isolating and elevating this specimen onto a collectible card prompts us to question traditional hierarchies and fixed categories. Here, the artist challenges us to reconsider our relationship to the everyday, and to find beauty in the ostensibly mundane.