Redstart, from the Birds of America series (N4) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

Editor: This small, vibrant print, "Redstart, from the Birds of America series" made in 1888 by Allen & Ginter, really pops. The bird seems caught mid-flight. I'm curious, given the context of the "Birds of America" series, how do you interpret this image beyond just a depiction of a bird? Curator: It's crucial to recognize that these weren’t created in a vacuum. Allen & Ginter was a cigarette company. This print, beautiful as it is, functioned as a collectible insert. Consider the era: the late 19th century was a period of intense industrialization and, frankly, ecological devastation alongside growing imperial ambitions. Editor: So, the print is intertwined with broader social themes? Curator: Precisely! "Birds of America" subtly reinforces a specific relationship with the natural world—one of control, collection, and, arguably, consumption. Think about the name itself and reflect upon who these “Americans” are within the geopolitical climate of the time. Who is afforded the ability to consume these images and, in turn, nature? What systems of labor and resources enable this? This tiny, seemingly harmless print participates in larger conversations about national identity and dominion over nature. Does this lens change your perspective? Editor: It does. I hadn’t thought about it in terms of environmental impact and accessibility of resources, both natural and economic. Now, it seems more like a commentary on early consumer culture. Curator: It also brings up important questions around ownership and representation. Whose America, whose birds? The image is seemingly innocuous, but invites deeper questions of value and control in a changing landscape. Editor: I'm seeing it less as a simple bird illustration, and more as an artifact embedded within layers of social and environmental history. Curator: Exactly! That critical awareness is key.