Hooded Merganser, from the Game Birds series (N13) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This is a cigarette card of a Hooded Merganser, part of a series on game birds by Allen & Ginter. Here, the merganser isn't just a bird; it's an emblem of nature tamed. The crest on its head, prominently displayed, echoes the plumes and elaborate headdresses seen in aristocratic portraits across Europe. These adornments denoted status and power, reflecting the human desire to mark oneself as special, distinct from the ordinary. Consider the way the bird is posed, almost like a noble in repose. This echoes depictions of power throughout art history. The artist captures the bird’s inherent dignity, mirroring the human inclination to find beauty and significance in the natural world, then project our own aspirations onto it. The Hooded Merganser, through the lens of human interpretation, transcends its simple existence, becoming a symbol laden with cultural meaning.