J.M. Bundy, New York Mail and Express, from the American Editors series (N35) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887

Allen & Ginter created this lithograph of J.M. Bundy for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The composition presents a formal arrangement, with a portrait set against bustling street scenes. Note how the visual elements of the print are structured. The central portrait of J.M. Bundy draws our attention through its clarity and directness, framed by vignettes of New York. The lithographic technique creates a tactile presence; its flatness emphasizes surface and texture. The scenes flanking Bundy's portrait offer contrasting perspectives – one bustling with commercial activity, the other crowded with pedestrians. These background scenes, while secondary to the portrait, embed Bundy within the dynamic environment of New York. This formal approach offers an insight into how commercial art uses visual structures to convey status and cultural context. Consider how the arrangement of elements within the frame creates a dialogue between individual and environment, reflecting the cultural values and commercial strategies of its time. The formal qualities of this print invite an understanding of its historical and cultural meanings.