Guava, from the Fruits series (N12) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1891

This small chromolithograph, "Guava," by Allen & Ginter, was originally produced as a trade card to be included in packages of cigarettes. These cards offer a glimpse into the complex intersections of commerce, culture, and representation in the late 19th century. Here we see a young Black boy, adorned in a straw hat and vibrant red shirt, posed next to a guava branch. While seemingly innocuous, the image participates in a broader history of exoticizing and marketing fruit alongside racial stereotypes. These stereotypes play into the politics of imperial expansion and the labor practices of the time. This image invites us to consider the ways in which commercial art can perpetuate stereotypical imagery, while also prompting conversations about representation and the complexities of identity. How do we navigate these historical images, acknowledging their problematic origins while also recognizing the humanity of the individuals depicted?