Scarlet Finch, from the Song Birds of the World series (N23) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This small card featuring a scarlet finch, was created as part of the Song Birds of the World series for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The first impression is dominated by the vibrant, almost aggressive, red of the finch itself. The composition places the bird off-center, diving diagonally across a backdrop of muted earth tones. This juxtaposition creates a dynamic tension, as the eye is drawn to the bird's movement against the static, stippled background. The artist employs a restricted palette, relying on variations of red and brown, which flattens the image, reducing depth. The finch is a study in contrasts. The soft, rounded body is set against the sharp angles of its wings, conveying a sense of controlled energy. The use of line is economical, yet precise, defining the bird's form with an almost diagrammatic clarity. The piece can be seen as part of a broader trend of late 19th-century visual culture, which blended scientific observation with aesthetic representation. Ultimately, the Scarlet Finch card exists not just as an image of a bird, but as an object that straddles the line between art, commerce, and scientific inquiry.