Brazil, from the Natives in Costume series (N16) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1886

Editor: So, this is "Brazil, from the Natives in Costume series" made in 1886 by Allen & Ginter as part of their cigarette brand marketing. It’s at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It’s…peculiar. The colours seem strangely cheerful for what I imagine were complicated colonial times. What do you make of it? Curator: Peculiar indeed! It's a colored-pencil drawing and print, appearing in trading cards back in the day. This work, perhaps unintentionally, showcases a specific era of exoticized marketing through a "native costume." Doesn’t it strike you how staged he looks, almost like a theatrical representation rather than a real portrayal? I'd venture it’s closer to caricature. What does that teal tunic bring to your mind? Editor: You’re right, it’s like a character. And that tunic…Robin Hood maybe gone slightly wrong? The odd coloring definitely doesn't scream "historical accuracy." Curator: Exactly! I see the use of coloured pencils hinting at a vibrancy. But even that vibrant teal serves a purpose - selling a story more than selling a reality. Think of the consumer who receives such an idealized card from a cigarette box - does it pique their interest? Does it quench their understanding of Brazilian culture? This opens a can of ethical worms that perhaps tastes worse than chewing tobacco. What do you reckon? Editor: It definitely emphasizes that line between representation and reality, especially in marketing. It makes you think about what stories are being told, and whose stories are left out. Curator: Indeed, and maybe what colourful lies are smoked in the interim. So many layers, really! Always exciting peeling the aesthetic onion... Editor: Definitely given me a lot to consider about perspective, marketing, and artistic intention. Thanks!