Troupe of very remarkable trained pigs, poster for Barnum & Bailey, ca. 1898
Dublin Core
Title
Troupe of very remarkable trained pigs, poster for Barnum & Bailey, ca. 1898
Description
"Barnum & Bailey, greatest show on earth -- Troupe of very remarkable trained pigs, performing numerous difficult, clever and wonderful tricks, animals showing almost human intelligence and reason, while in the performance of many curious and original feats "
It's a very select choice of wording and imagery that is apparent on the poster that makes it so appealing. Interestingly, the description is incredibly minor in comparison to the actual photo itself which plays into the reading for today. The focus is on the director leading the pigs, a master of vigor, intelligence, and direction he single handedly masters the animal here. Despite being a pig (which is the standard "dumb" animal despite being intelligent), he is able to provide it with "almost human level of intelligence". I picked this poster because it really looks into the poster ideals but also the inner message of the circus (Spectacle through the "never before seen and amazing")
- Calen
It's a very select choice of wording and imagery that is apparent on the poster that makes it so appealing. Interestingly, the description is incredibly minor in comparison to the actual photo itself which plays into the reading for today. The focus is on the director leading the pigs, a master of vigor, intelligence, and direction he single handedly masters the animal here. Despite being a pig (which is the standard "dumb" animal despite being intelligent), he is able to provide it with "almost human level of intelligence". I picked this poster because it really looks into the poster ideals but also the inner message of the circus (Spectacle through the "never before seen and amazing")
- Calen
Creator
Barnum & Bailey Circus
Source
https://flic.kr/p/5iHsoj
Publisher
Library of Congress
Date
1898
Files
Citation
Barnum & Bailey Circus, “Troupe of very remarkable trained pigs, poster for Barnum & Bailey, ca. 1898,” Materiality and Spectacle 2015, accessed November 27, 2025, https://ds-omeka.haverford.edu/materiality-and-spectacle-2015/items/show/77.