Great Bear, Delaware, from the American Indian Chiefs series (N2) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

Editor: So, this is "Great Bear, Delaware," from the American Indian Chiefs series, dating back to 1888. It was created by Allen & Ginter, using coloured pencils and print. What strikes me immediately is the intense gaze – it feels very direct and a little unsettling, perhaps. What stands out to you? Curator: Unsettling is a good word for it. Imagine holding this tiny card, a momentary encounter with Great Bear mediated by, well, tobacco! It’s easy to see these cards, printed for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes, as mere historical ephemera, like Victorian-era baseball cards... and easy to miss their profound complexity. Editor: Complexity in what way? Curator: In how they portray identity, for one thing. Note the almost theatrical costume—the prominent bear headdress with a striking horn, the necklace fashioned from claws. This isn’t simply a likeness, it's a constructed image. How much was imposed versus representing authentic regalia? How do these details shape our understanding, or misunderstanding, of Great Bear as an individual, and his people, in the grand sweep of American history? Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Editor: It definitely does. I hadn't really considered the staged aspect of it, or how that impacts what we're seeing. Curator: Exactly! And it's a perfect reminder that even seemingly simple images carry so many layers of interpretation. It's all about questioning what we think we see. Editor: I’m going to look at trading cards very differently now! Curator: Wonderful! That’s the idea! Art whispers its secrets if we lend it an ear.