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

Editor: This is "Virginian Deer" from 1888, made by Allen & Ginter as part of their Wild Animals of the World series. It looks like a print, maybe a coloured pencil drawing. I’m immediately struck by the contrast between the detail in the deer and the more impressionistic background. What story does this image tell, in your opinion? Curator: A story, eh? Well, for me, this little gem evokes a longing for simpler times. Back when collecting cigarette cards was a perfectly respectable hobby. Can you imagine, swapping these vibrant, pocket-sized portals to far-off lands and creatures? The deer itself, so meticulously rendered, becomes a symbol of untamed beauty, yet contained and commodified within this frame. Tell me, does it make you ponder about humanity's relationship with nature, then and now? Editor: Absolutely! It's almost like a captured moment of wilderness, preserved for… well, for cigarette smokers! I see how the act of collecting these cards also shaped perceptions of these animals. Did people learn about wildlife from these cards? Curator: I wager many did! These cards served as miniature encyclopedias. Think about it—access to images of exotic animals would have been rare for many people at the time. But it does give you pause, doesn't it? This juxtaposition of art, commerce, and our yearning to understand the wild. Even though these cards were advertisements, they speak volumes. Editor: It’s interesting to consider it in terms of cultural context. Curator: Exactly. The deer, isolated against that soft backdrop, makes you want to create your own wilderness right in the palm of your hand. A little bit ironic if you consider that's just the amount of space it originally occupied! Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way! Thanks, it’s fascinating to consider the multiple layers of meaning in this image. Curator: It's been a pleasure, indeed. Keeps my artistic soul burning bright, it does!