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

"Wolf", one of the N21 series of images, was made by Allen & Ginter for insertion in cigarette packs. These cards, small as they are, speak volumes about how commercial culture shaped perceptions of the natural world at the height of the industrial era. The image of the wolf, captured mid-stride, is romantic. It echoes a wider cultural narrative of untamed wilderness, and hints at a perceived battle between civilization and nature, deeply entangled with the project of colonial expansion and its impact on indigenous populations and their lands. This tension speaks to the complex ways animals are framed - as symbols of freedom and wildness, or as creatures to be feared and controlled. The collectible nature of these cards also speaks to issues of class and leisure during this period, reflecting a society where the consumption of tobacco and the collection of associated ephemera became a pastime. This seemingly simple image, therefore, reflects a complex interplay of commerce, culture, and colonial ideologies, reminding us of the stories we tell ourselves about nature and our place within it.