Lion, from the Wild Animals of the World series (N25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

Editor: So, here we have a lithograph from 1888, a print called "Lion, from the Wild Animals of the World series" by Allen & Ginter. It's incredibly detailed for what was essentially a cigarette card. I'm struck by the almost human-like expression in the lion’s eyes, sort of melancholy. What jumps out at you? Curator: Oh, darling, those eyes tell a story, don't they? A world compressed into amber irises. For me, it's the fusion of the wild and the…domesticated, almost. This image was meant to entice, a little wilderness tucked inside your pack of smokes. I think it's interesting to see how popular interest in Japonisme influenced its composition and colors – do you see echoes of that here? Editor: I do see it, especially the emphasis on flattened planes and the decorative aspects. What's surprising to me is seeing Japonisme applied to, well, a lion. It feels a bit… unexpected. Curator: Absolutely! That's where the magic happens, doesn't it? Taking something ferocious and exotic and rendering it in a style known for serene landscapes and geishas. It's a way of taming the wild, making it palatable for the masses. Makes you wonder what other wild things people were trying to tame back then, metaphorically speaking. Don't you think? Editor: It really does. I never would have considered the subtle commentary on control and domestication embedded in what I perceived at first glance as simply a pretty picture of a lion. Curator: That’s the beauty of art, isn’t it? To keep you looking and learning something new with each view.