Festive Green Parrot, from the Birds of the Tropics series (N5) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This is a chromolithograph of a Festive Green Parrot, part of the Birds of the Tropics series by Allen & Ginter. The composition is immediately striking for its vertical orientation, framing a vibrant parrot perched against an exotic backdrop. Notice how the artist uses colour to create contrast and depth. The lush green of the parrot’s plumage is set against a softer, almost dreamlike landscape featuring a volcano and hints of tropical flora. The structure here is more than representational, it is evocative. The textures are implied through the layering of colours and fine details of the feathers, inviting the viewer to imagine the tactile experience. The parrot is the central signifier, yet its meaning is destabilized by its commercial context. As a promotional item for cigarettes, it links exoticism with consumer culture. Consider how this small card, through its careful composition and colour choices, operates within a broader network of colonial and commercial exchange, reminding us that art exists not in isolation but as part of a larger cultural discourse.