Red Bird, from the Birds of America series (N4) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

Curator: At first glance, there's something quite vibrant and joyful about this little scene. The brilliant red of the bird set against the blue sky gives it such energy! Editor: Precisely. What you're observing is "Red Bird" a print from the "Birds of America" series made around 1888 by Allen & Ginter. Originally included as promotional cards within cigarette packs. Curator: Cigarette cards! What a strange place to find art. It’s not the type of location that is respected nowadays, so was it different in that period of time? Editor: It speaks volumes about the democratizing, or perhaps commodifying, impulse of late 19th-century advertising. Imagine collecting these – each card a miniature portal to a wider world, slipped into your everyday consumption. Curator: It reminds me of folk-art traditions. Birds often symbolize freedom, the soul's journey, and even omens. Here, it looks more decorative than symbolic; it does have this Art Nouveau style in some ways. The branch, fruit, bird, everything follows that compositional movement. Editor: You're spot-on to see the Art Nouveau influences—the stylized naturalism, the focus on decorative lines. But beyond aesthetics, consider the politics. "Birds of America" suggests an implicit narrative of national identity and the "natural" resources being advertised, tobacco. Curator: It is fascinating how these beautiful pieces played into the grand scheme of things at that moment in time. You buy a pack of cigarettes and get a token that creates a desire of national identity… Very thought provoking! Editor: I agree. I feel the image holds cultural meaning far beyond its marketing context. The commercial packaging is secondary, and its essence is rooted within our idea of folk and nature Curator: It is a poignant illustration about the many layered of society in the 1800's, and now it is our privilege to decode all those secrets and understand our roots. Editor: Exactly, it invites us to consider what it meant to capture and consume both images and nature.