Big Snake, Winnebagoes, from the American Indian Chiefs series (N36) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

"Big Snake, Winnebagoes" was created by Allen & Ginter for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The composition of this small card is striking in its contrasts. The subject, an American Indian chief named Big Snake, is framed by a bear claw necklace, and a lacrosse stick and ball, set against a backdrop that resembles a gridded ledger sheet. This juxtaposition immediately introduces a tension between the representation of indigenous culture and the encroaching forces of a structured, commercial world. The use of a gridded background flattens the pictorial space, turning what might have been a portrait into a semiotic field. Big Snake is not just a person but a sign, an element in a coded message about conquest, assimilation, and the commodification of culture. The image is not merely a portrait, but a carefully constructed tableau designed to convey specific cultural meanings within the context of its time, challenging viewers to decode its multiple layers.