Grizzly Bear, from the Animals of the World series (T180), issued by Abdul Cigarettes 1881

This small image, a Grizzly Bear from a series of cigarette cards by Abdul Cigarettes, presents us with a figure laden with symbolic weight. The bear, standing powerfully on a rock, evokes a sense of primal strength and untamed nature. The bear is an ancient symbol, recurring across cultures. Think of the Paleolithic cave paintings, where the animal is depicted as a creature of immense power, or the totemic roles it assumes in indigenous cultures as a guardian and ancestor. This depiction reminds us of the mythic and symbolic potency of animals and humanity's deeply rooted fascination with them. But how has the meaning shifted? Once revered, now confined to a card promoting cigarettes, its untamed essence is subtly commodified. This image is a palimpsest, bearing layers of cultural memory and evolving human perspectives. The bear's image persists, echoing through time, each appearance adding to its complex narrative.