Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty, from the Views series (N53, variation 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1886 - 1895

Curator: Ah, here's an interesting piece from our collection: a small print dating between 1886 and 1895, titled "Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty." It comes from the "Views" series, specifically N53, variation 2, and was created by Allen & Ginter as a promotional item for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Editor: It's like a tiny monument to big ambition. The sepia tone gives it such a nostalgic air, almost dreamy. But seeing Lady Liberty peddling cigarettes… it's a strange collision of icons. A national symbol advertising tobacco! Curator: Exactly! These cigarette cards were immensely popular, functioning as miniature encyclopedias or collectible sets. They served not only to advertise the product, but also to familiarize consumers with a wide range of subjects, from historical landmarks to sports figures. Editor: I guess freedom needed funding somehow! The scaffolding at the base suggests it was snapped not too long after its unveiling. Look at those raw edges on Liberty's gown. You can almost feel the gritty textures—so much heavier, so much earthbound than the soaring ideal it represents. It is far less slick than postcards. Curator: Indeed. The photograph captures a moment in time, when the Statue was still quite new. Beyond its artistic merit, it is a valuable record of the Statue of Liberty as a cultural phenomenon and also sheds light on the advertising practices of the late 19th century. These trading cards helped popularize images and icons. Editor: Popularize...or commodify? It feels like the beginning of turning everything, even ideals, into merchandise. Makes you wonder what Liberty would have to say about it now, doesn't it? I do admire how this object connects fine art, cultural documentation, and advertising so eloquently in such a small form. Curator: Precisely. It reminds us that even symbols are products of their time and subject to the economic and cultural forces around them. Editor: And those forces are often stranger and more complicated than we’d like to admit! Well, food for thought. Or maybe, a cigarette for thought.