Black Bear, from the Wild Animals of the World series (N25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

Allen & Ginter produced this lithograph of a Black Bear as part of their Wild Animals of the World series. Its intense depiction of the animal is immediately striking. Observe how the composition directs our gaze: the bear’s head, rendered in stark profile, dominates the frame, its open mouth and visible teeth creating a focal point. The artist’s use of color—the contrast between the dark fur and the bright red of the mouth—amplifies this effect. Note how the rough texture of the fur is suggested through the lithographic technique, lending a tactile quality to the image. This image, while seemingly straightforward, functions as a complex sign. On one hand, it evokes the Romantic fascination with the sublime power of nature. On the other, it's a commercial object, designed to be collected and traded, thus transforming the wild animal into a commodity. This tension between the natural and the artificial, the wild and the domestic, is central to understanding the card's cultural significance. Consider the interplay between the bear’s aggressive posture and its containment within the small, rectangular format. This contrast reflects a broader cultural project: the attempt to understand and control the natural world through representation.