Brent Goose, from the Game Birds series (N40) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888 - 1890

The 'Brent Goose', from the Game Birds series, was made by Allen & Ginter as a promotional card for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The card presents a collage of images, blending the wild with the comforts of domestic life. The dominant image is that of the Brent Goose itself, captured mid-action with a vibrant landscape of water and vegetation. The artist uses a vivid color palette, setting the dark tones of the goose against soft blues and pinks. The lower register features vignettes of domesticity, with a fireplace, rocking chair and hunting equipment. The card plays with visual and cultural signs by juxtaposing nature and domesticity. The wild bird is not presented in its natural environment but as an object, or a referent to hunting, positioned alongside a scene of domestic comfort. The effect is unsettling and reflects tensions between industrial expansion, natural resources and leisure in the late 19th century. The advertisement becomes more than a claim of quality; it’s an invitation to a lifestyle, carefully constructed, and visually codified. This little card encapsulates significant discourses about nature, culture, and commodity.