Florida, from Flags of the States and Territories (N11) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

Curator: Well, isn't this little treasure captivating! We are looking at "Florida, from Flags of the States and Territories," a print produced by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes in 1888, currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: My first thought? Nostalgia. It's like peering into a bygone era's idyllic vision, sugar-coated in a sepia filter, all within something I would've found tucked into a cigarette pack. Talk about escapism, one puff at a time! Curator: Exactly! The composition adheres to the conventions of the time: an allegorical representation encased within a flag motif. Notice the hierarchical arrangement of pictorial elements: vignettes depicting industry, nature, and heritage that attempt to encompass the "essence" of Florida. Editor: The “essence”, hmm. I do appreciate how it presents Florida's layered identities with the steam boat, a local native, citrus orchards... It feels a bit idealized, maybe a bit naive. But isn't there a truth in seeing how people *wanted* their home to be seen, beyond mere accuracy? Curator: Precisely. The “In God We Trust” motto emblazoned across the central banner adds another layer to this narrative. It is intriguing to juxtapose such aspirational motto with the colonial undertones of the landscape. The juxtaposition encourages a dialectical interpretation, does it not? Editor: Sure, the rosy lens of progress and divine approval is…well, pretty forceful! But there’s also that sweet naive style – a mix of watercolour and coloured pencil gives it an inviting, almost folksy vibe. It's the kind of postcard you might find tucked away in a grandparent's attic, which just triggers all the feelings, you know? Curator: Indeed. Consider this within its broader context: these cards were marketing tools during an age defined by territorial expansion, burgeoning industrialization and idealized views on progress. A single item reveals volumes about America's self-perception at that turn. Editor: Makes you think what someone a hundred years from now might say about, I don’t know, an ad for a metaverse vacation on a digital cigarette pack. What part of us would *that* show? Anyway, that was cool to linger on! Thanks for sharing. Curator: An enlightening discussion indeed. I shall continue observing these details with newly enlightened lenses.