Secure Arms, from the Parasol Drills series (N18) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

Editor: Right now, we're looking at "Secure Arms," from the "Parasol Drills" series, an 1888 print made with coloured pencil by Allen & Ginter. What strikes me is the contrast, a lady, perhaps in formal wear, with a military rifle and hat. It's definitely a perplexing choice. What do you see in this piece, and what do you think it communicates about the period in which it was created? Curator: Well, it's funny you say perplexing, because I find it rather… cheeky! Imagine the late 1880s - corsets, strict social codes. Then *bam!*, this Allen & Ginter card flips the script. It's as if the artist is winking at us, blending the demure with a dash of daring. See how her rifle almost mirrors the curve of her shoulder? There is harmony where we expect tension. Do you notice anything familiar from recent artworks, it seems a bit anachronistic? Editor: You’re right, I suppose it challenges the stuffy social norms of the time, but it looks like so many contemporary art memes... almost a kind of 'girl boss' thing of its time, a comment on burgeoning feminine power perhaps? Curator: Exactly! And think about who Allen & Ginter were selling to - primarily men! Is this their ideal woman, or are they playing with gender roles to titillate? Or, possibly they just want a cool collectible card and want to avoid the art police who love drab landscapes. The possibilities! Editor: Okay, I never thought about this piece this way, so maybe I misjudged it when I saw it as merely perplexing, a simple advertising tool. Now I'm curious how it actually resonated at the time... Curator: That’s the magic of art, isn’t it? It keeps talking, keeps changing its mind.