W.W. Clapp, Boston Morning Journal, from the American Editors series (N1) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

Curator: Here we have a lithograph from 1887, “W.W. Clapp, Boston Morning Journal, from the American Editors series (N1) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands," now residing at The Met. It's attributed to Allen & Ginter, a name known more for tobacco than artistry. Editor: My initial sense is of muted power. Despite its diminutive size and origins as a promotional item, the portrait exudes a self-assuredness. The man is framed so that his upward gaze embodies that exactly. It’s something about the period color scheme they use too: the blush complexion feels intentionally rosy. Curator: Indeed. The Japonisme influence is clear, echoing woodblock prints, particularly in the flatness and decorative quality. Notice how Clapp's steady gaze is cast heavenward which is used to elevate the man and how printing a journalist or editor elevated the practice of news itself, even for just the few seconds it would take someone to pull this lithograph from their cigarette packet. Editor: Precisely! Consider the cultural weight embedded in what were originally trivial items, not considered artistic objects. Think about how these trading cards entered everyday circulation, what kind of lithographic process they relied on, the economic impact on both laborers and tobacco industry. This makes it clear that it was an extremely commercial object and product, however aesthetically attractive. Curator: Absolutely. By selecting figures like W.W. Clapp, they bestowed a certain cultural capital upon the consumer, aligning tobacco use with intellect and accomplishment. Think of the layered cultural codes this contains - a news editor presented like a mythological god in miniature. It speaks volumes. Editor: To really delve deeper would require considering what cigarette production in general actually asks, both culturally and physically, of labor and land. Curator: It highlights that tension between promoting ideals and the mechanics of industry, all bundled into this fascinating little artwork. Editor: A product reflecting bigger ideologies indeed.