Military Order of William, Netherlands or Holland, from the World's Decorations series (N44) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1890

Curator: This is a print entitled "Military Order of William, Netherlands or Holland" from the World's Decorations series, created around 1890 by Allen & Ginter as part of a cigarette card set. It employs watercolor and print techniques, and it's currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Oh, isn’t it sweet? A tiny badge of honour rendered with such delicate colors, it almost feels whimsical, even though it signifies something quite serious. There's something so gentle about it. Curator: It is a miniature celebration of craftsmanship embedded in everyday commerce, created at a time when such decorations held significant social currency. Think about it—a marker of social status tucked into a packet of cigarettes. Editor: And beautifully executed, nonetheless. The ribbon in particular – the artist has created folds and textures with simple watercolor strokes. The crown looks a bit heavy for that tiny sprig of laurel, doesn’t it? It’s kind of comical, actually. Curator: That contrast, I believe, underscores the manufacturing context. This piece circulated as a consumer object, blurring the boundaries between art, commerce, and patriotic imagery. Its artistic merit derives from how seamlessly those elements intertwine. The decorative border serves its function, too, since they knew it would be mass-produced. Editor: It makes me think about the ephemeral nature of glory. To go from an emblem of national pride to something disposable, a collectible trinket accompanying a smoke. It reminds me how reputations come and go! Curator: Precisely, its value rests on its material existence and broad circulation within the social landscape of the time, far beyond its intrinsic artistic features. Editor: That being said, I feel touched by its charm; it's oddly personal despite being mass produced and the message about the passage of time. A fleeting moment of valor, framed for the ages—or at least, for a cigarette break!