Red Head Duck, from the Game Birds series (N13) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This small chromolithograph of a 'Red Head Duck' was produced by Allen & Ginter as part of their Game Birds series. The image is striking in its composition, which balances naturalistic representation with stylized design elements. The duck is vividly rendered, its russet head contrasting with its dark body and the subtle hues of the background landscape. Note how the composition is structured around contrasts: the organic form of the bird versus the geometric patterns of the border. The artist employs a semiotic system, using visual codes to convey not just the likeness of the duck but also a sense of luxury and refinement associated with the Allen & Ginter brand. The linear precision and colour choices invite us to consider how commercial art engages with broader aesthetic and cultural values. The artwork functions not just as a promotional item but as a complex interplay of nature, representation, and consumer culture.