Webster Cigars ad illustration 1944

Edwin Georgi made this ad illustration for Webster Cigars, and you can almost smell the tobacco and the celebratory champagne. Look at these characters—what a great way to get a feeling for post-war America and the attitude towards painting as a form of cultural messaging. I can imagine Georgi at his drawing board, carefully considering the composition. The crisp brushstrokes feel like a deliberate attempt to capture a fleeting moment of social interaction, to sell this ideal of leisure, luxury, and connection. The artist invites us into this sophisticated world, where every detail feels curated. For Georgi and the culture he was part of, painting was not just about aesthetics but also about communication. This work reminds me of artists who blur the line between commercial art and fine art. They remind us that art can be found in the most unexpected places, so long as we look with open eyes.