Lynx, from the Quadrupeds series (N21) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

This color lithograph of a lynx was produced in the United States as part of the Quadrupeds series, by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. These cards were originally inserted into cigarette packs as a marketing strategy that spoke to the social currency of collecting. The image is composed of small, carefully placed dots of color. The lynx is shown in a relaxed pose against an idyllic background. The visual codes present a romanticized vision of nature, subtly encouraging a turn-of-the-century consumer to purchase this brand of cigarettes. The late 19th century was a time of rapid industrialization and urbanization in America, and a growing concern over the loss of the natural environment. Images of animals, especially those from the American wilderness, tapped into this sentiment. Understanding the social history of objects like this gives us insight into the values and anxieties of the culture that produced them. By consulting archives of advertising history, we can better understand the cultural work performed by images like this one.