Curlew, from the Game Birds series (N13) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This chromolithograph of a curlew, printed by Allen & Ginter for cigarette cards, presents us with a curious tableau of nature and commerce. The curlew itself, standing poised with its distinctive, down-curved bill, is an ancient symbol across cultures, often associated with melancholy, wildness, and liminal spaces. Its haunting cry, known to sailors, echoes in literature as a harbinger of storms, yet also signifies transition and freedom. Consider the symbolic resonance of birds, messengers between worlds, and the curlew’s specific connotations. We might recall the mythic significance of birds in the ancient world. The bird represents freedom, carrying our aspirations and unconscious longings. The curlew, with its solitary habits, touches upon our own longing for solitude and connection to wildness. This image evokes a feeling of nostalgia, a yearning for simpler times, subtly marketed alongside the pleasures of smoking. The symbol of the bird has an emotional pull on viewers, engaging with subconscious desires and memories. It's a poignant example of how symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings.