Tumbler Pigeon, from the Birds of America series (N37) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

Editor: This is a "Tumbler Pigeon," part of the Birds of America series by Allen & Ginter, created in 1888. It’s a colored print with watercolor and colored-pencil drawing elements. It has such a sweet, antique quality, almost like a miniature stage set for this pigeon's portrait. What leaps out at you when you look at it? Curator: Oh, the layers, absolutely! It’s this delightful tension between the naturalistic rendering of the bird itself, bursting with vibrant detail, and the flat, almost decorative, background. I mean, that pigeon has real personality, doesn't it? Puffed up with pride, standing against what appears to be an open door framing landscape views that call back to Ukiyo-e prints in a weirdly compelling, American way. Editor: Ukiyo-e, that’s interesting! I didn’t catch that at first. Curator: Yes! Those serene rural scenes! Allen & Ginter produced these as trading cards, right? Little slices of ephemeral art tucked into cigarette packs. Each card capturing this sort of idealized vision of nature, fitting into a bigger picture promoting their brand and patriotism at the time. Makes you wonder what that tumbler pigeon was tumbling into at the time this advertisement was crafted, eh? Editor: I hadn't thought of it in the context of advertising... the landscapes suddenly feel very artificial and intentional. So much story packed into a tiny image! Curator: Precisely! It reveals that seemingly innocent art is intertwined with so many cultural nuances. The more you look, the more it reflects. I think it is a clever wink to how culture evolves through art. Editor: Well, that’s given me a lot to, uh, tumble over. Thanks!