Banburg, from The World's Racers series (N32) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

Editor: Here we have "Banburg," a colored-pencil print from 1888, part of The World's Racers series by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. I’m struck by how this miniature scene—a jockey and his horse—promotes cigarettes. It feels so far removed from what we associate with the product today. What can you tell me about the context behind this? Curator: The key to understanding this image lies in examining its role as an advertising medium within the historical context of late 19th-century consumer culture. Cigarette cards like "Banburg" were enormously popular, acting as miniature collectibles inserted into cigarette packs. Think of them as precursors to baseball cards. Editor: So, it was about creating an incentive to buy their brand? Curator: Exactly! Allen & Ginter cleverly associated their product with images of success, speed, and sport through their World’s Racers series. Note how Banburg is depicted at the peak of athletic form. By imbuing their brand with these qualities, they hoped to appeal to a growing consumer base eager for social mobility and aspirational lifestyles. Consider also how the relatively new technology of color printing democratized art, bringing visually appealing images to the masses. Editor: That’s fascinating. So the value wasn’t really in the art itself, but more in its function within society and its role in promoting consumerism? Curator: Precisely. The imagery becomes a tool. But consider the effect on genre-painting too - does commercial art cheapen art as a whole or bring more art to a greater proportion of the public? Editor: I never thought about it that way before. It seems these images are doing a lot more than just selling cigarettes! Curator: They reflect the societal values and aspirations of their time, and how businesses try to harness those aspirations. It prompts questions about art's democratization, its commercial value, and the interplay between consumer culture and artistic expression.