Brazilian Tanager, from the Song Birds of the World series (N42) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This is a lithograph of a Brazilian Tanager from the Song Birds of the World series made for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. Here, the vivid red of the tanager is not merely a color; it is a symbol deeply embedded in our collective consciousness. Across cultures and epochs, red has been a potent signifier of life force and vitality. Think of the life-giving power of blood, the passionate heat of fire, or the symbolic meaning of the heart. The portrayal of birds too is significant. Birds have been depicted as messengers between the earthly and divine realms in many ancient cultures, symbolizing freedom, inspiration, and the transcendence of earthly bounds. Consider their representation in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, Christian iconography, and shamanic traditions. Even now, they evoke a sense of wonder and a connection to the natural world. The very act of depicting this exotic bird speaks to a human longing for connection with nature. This small card is thus an echo chamber of primal symbols. It speaks not only to our conscious appreciation of beauty but also resonates with the deeper, subconscious layers of our shared human experience.