Musk Ox, from Quadrupeds series (N41) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is a lithograph of a musk ox, made by Allen & Ginter as part of their Quadrupeds series of cigarette cards. These cards, like collectible baseball cards, were included in packs of Richmond Straight Cut No. 1 Cigarettes. This image offers us a small window into the cultural values of the late 19th century. Note how the image of the musk ox is paired with the image of a hunter in the upper left corner. It speaks volumes about our relationship to the natural world, and how we imagine our place within it. Consider the contrast between the majestic animal and the hunter poised to take its life. What does it say about the human desire to dominate and control? The commercial nature of this card also reflects a changing economy, where nature becomes both a resource to be exploited and a commodity to be consumed. It invites us to consider the costs, both ecological and ethical, of our desires.