Striker, Apache, from the American Indian Chiefs series (N36) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This small chromolithograph, part of Allen & Ginter's American Indian Chiefs series, presents a portrait of Striker, an Apache leader, framed by cultural symbols. The composition is rigidly structured, bisected vertically into zones of representation. To the right, Striker is depicted frontally, his gaze direct, flanked by carefully arranged feathers—a formal device to signify honor and status. These elements serve as signs within a visual language, encoding notions of identity and otherness. On the left, we see what appears to be a war club. The object is flattened and stylized almost beyond recognition, losing its inherent danger. The formal choices raise interesting questions about the construction of cultural identity and its commodification. By placing Striker within this highly structured and symbolic framework, the artwork invites us to consider the complex interplay between representation, power, and perception.