Swinhoe Pheasant, from Birds of the Tropics series (N38) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

This is a Swinhoe Pheasant print, one of a series of collectible cards produced by Allen & Ginter for their cigarettes. The late 19th century saw an increased fascination with the natural world and a desire to classify and display its wonders, often fueled by imperial expansion. These cards, included in cigarette packs, reflect that trend, exoticizing birds within a framework of commercial branding. We should ask ourselves, what does it mean to commodify images of nature? Is there violence inherent in this act? The advertisement aesthetic flattens the pheasant into an object of desire, stripping it of its ecological context and cultural significance. The composition of this card, juxtaposing the pheasant with a romanticized tropical backdrop, evokes a sense of longing for distant, “untamed” lands, yet simultaneously makes them knowable through their reduction into easily digestible images.