Captain Kidd, Burying Treasure, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1886 - 1891

This small chromolithograph card shows Captain Kidd burying treasure and was created by Allen & Ginter as part of their Pirates of the Spanish Main series. The composition is divided into two distinct zones. On the right, a detailed portrait of Captain Kidd draws the eye with its bold colors and sharp lines. He is framed and set apart from the blurred, sepia-toned activity of his crew on the left. This separation creates a fascinating tension. Is he part of the scene or an icon, a symbol abstracted from the gritty reality of piracy? The very structure of the image destabilizes a fixed narrative, allowing a slippage between representation and reality. The treasure, the act of burying it, is almost an afterthought, secondary to the captivating image of Kidd himself. This focus suggests a shift from the tangible wealth to the romantic allure of the pirate figure.