Saddle-Billed Stork, from the Birds of the Tropics series (N5) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This card depicting a Saddle-Billed Stork was made by Allen & Ginter as part of a series for their cigarette brand. It is a chromolithograph, which is a color printing technique involving the use of multiple lithographic stones. The relatively simple design belies the complex industrial processes at play. Chromolithography allowed for mass production of colorful images, which democratized visual culture. These cards were essentially advertisements, but they also functioned as collectibles, and even educational tools. Allen & Ginter weren’t necessarily interested in producing high art, but they were interested in the power of images to sell their product, and the printing process allowed for detail and vibrant color. The smooth surface betrays the layered process of creating the image. The commodification of art through advertising speaks to the blurring lines between artistic expression, commercial interests, and mass production. This card reminds us that images, like any object, are made, distributed, and consumed within a specific social and economic context.