Andalusian Cock, from the Prize and Game Chickens series (N20) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

This chromolithograph of an Andalusian Cock was produced as part of a series of collectible cards for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. In the late 19th century, tobacco companies included these cards as a marketing strategy. The images, often of birds, sports figures, or actresses, offered consumers a small reward and an incentive to collect complete sets. They also stiffened cigarette packs, preventing them from being crushed. The cards reflect the burgeoning mass culture of the Gilded Age, shaped by industrialization, urbanization, and the rise of consumerism. The focus on ‘prize’ chickens also speaks to the popularity of selective breeding and agricultural societies. The image flattens a living creature into a commodity, an effect heightened by its serial reproduction. Understanding this artwork requires exploring both the history of advertising and the cultural values of the time. These seemingly simple images reveal complex social and economic relationships.