J.C. Cockburn, Champion Wing Shot of Canada, from the Champions of Games and Sports series (N184, Type 2) issued by W.S. Kimball & Co. 1887

This is an image of J.C. Cockburn, Champion Wing Shot of Canada, a lithograph card issued by W.S. Kimball & Co. It features a portrait of Cockburn above a scene of him shooting birds, evoking themes of skill and dominance over nature. Consider the birds in flight, symbols of freedom and the wild. Across cultures, birds have represented the soul's journey and spiritual transcendence. Here, however, their depiction takes on a different valence. The flock becomes a target, transforming the symbol of freedom into one of mortality. This juxtaposition is not new; images of the hunt have persisted throughout art history. Think of ancient Egyptian reliefs depicting pharaohs hunting lions, symbolizing their power and control. This scene taps into a primal narrative deeply embedded in our collective psyche. The act of the hunt, laden with implications of survival, power, and the cycle of life and death.