W.W. Clapp, Boston Morning Journal, Philadelphia Public Ledger, from the American Editors series (N35) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887

Editor: So, this is "W.W. Clapp, Boston Morning Journal, Philadelphia Public Ledger," from 1887. It's a lithograph print from Allen & Ginter's American Editors series. The combination of a portrait and cityscape is striking. It feels like a window into a different time. What do you make of it? Curator: A window, yes, but one slightly smudged with nostalgia, wouldn't you say? It’s interesting how they've juxtaposed the formal portrait of W.W. Clapp with the lively scene of Boston Common. The printmakers were selling a product—cigarettes—by also selling an idealized vision of America, a curated image of success and leisure. Do you feel that contrast too? Editor: I see what you mean. It's like the image is trying to say something about the link between prominent figures, everyday life, and…tobacco? What's with that choice, do you think? Curator: Well, back then, tobacco cards like these were akin to modern-day baseball cards. They were collectible, little windows into society’s values and heroes. Allen & Ginter sought to elevate their brand, connecting it to sophistication and culture. Think of it as clever marketing wrapped in a pretty package, a tiny little paper package. Editor: So, the artwork reflects the time more than the subject? Like, we can learn more about the consumers and less about W.W. Clapp and his morning journal? Curator: Precisely. We're left to ponder why Clapp and the Boston Morning Journal were considered so important as to be immortalized on something ultimately so…disposable. I find myself thinking about the ephemeral nature of news, reputation, and even art itself. Editor: Wow. That definitely gives me a different perspective on it! Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It's always fascinating how a little image can open up so many unexpected avenues of thought, isn’t it?