Mr. Manton, from the Racing Colors of the World series (N22b) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

Editor: So, here we have "Mr. Manton," a print from 1888 by Allen & Ginter, part of their "Racing Colors of the World" series. It’s on toned paper, which gives it this aged look. The subject matter feels oddly formal. Like, why is a jockey being presented in what feels like a portrait format? What’s your read on this? Curator: Well, isn't it intriguing? The cigarette card format immediately shrinks the grandiose portrait down to something almost… democratic. I find myself wondering, what was it like to collect these? To find a portrait of Mr. Manton nestled in a pack of tobacco, amongst what I imagine as very personal indulgences and vices. Imagine, the subtle stain of tobacco on his painted visage, a testament to its owner. And does it not make one ponder - Was Mr. Manton the celebrity of his time? Editor: That's a really evocative way to look at it! The cigarette card as a democratizing force for art… Curator: Precisely! Or perhaps a cynical vehicle to create status through ephemera… What do you notice about his posture and costume? It is more active, showing his work, than many more posed and traditional painted or sculpted portraits of other kinds of powerful men. I also see echoes of how old master paintings utilized vibrant color to emphasize the social position of its subjects, too! The bright red shouts loudly! Editor: Good point! It bridges that gap. He seems to be simultaneously elevated, and… accessible. Like a playing card in a very high-stakes game. I like it. Curator: Yes, accessible *and* elevated! A peculiar Victorian remix, where commerce, celebrity, and art collide in a puff of smoke. Thanks, Mr. Manton, for complicating things. Editor: Definitely given me a lot to chew on! Never thought a cigarette card could be so thought-provoking.