Edward Mansvelt, Setting Out on a Cruise, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1886 - 1891

Editor: This small, colored pencil drawing is called "Edward Mansvelt, Setting Out on a Cruise," created between 1886 and 1891 as part of the "Pirates of the Spanish Main" series by Allen & Ginter. It feels like a romanticized glimpse into the age of piracy. What significance do you see in the image of a pirate "setting out?" Curator: The image is thick with the visual language of adventure, but look closer: What is it selling, and what are we really seeing? The series was produced to be included in cigarette packs, embedding itself in the fabric of everyday life. Edward Mansvelt is not a simple pirate portrait, it’s a potent blend of fantasy, historical allusion, and consumerism, cleverly using iconography to construct and sell a narrative. Notice his mustache. Does it call to mind another figure from this period? Editor: I see what you mean! It is a distinct visual shorthand: swashbuckling imagery combined with a commercial endeavor. The boats almost fade into the background, making it appear as though it’s just a man and his moustache. Curator: The convergence of the maritime imagery and individual swagger created a symbolic association that appealed to consumers, especially in the late 19th century. The individual imagined themselves setting out in uncharted waters. And Mansvelt! The alliterative function of the name and “Man” in particular works very powerfully with the overall portrait. What meaning do we carry into our present experience when viewing this card? Editor: It is odd to see something like piracy, often linked with brutality and theft, transformed into something aspirational, or even, light-hearted, to encourage buying habits. The symbolism in a cigarette card really does weave a complex historical tale. Curator: Exactly! And those underlying implications offer compelling insights into our values and aspirations even now, today.