Card 51, from the Girl Cyclists series (N49) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1887

Editor: Here we have “Card 51, from the Girl Cyclists series,” a print made in 1887 by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. There’s such a strong sense of…determination about this woman. Poised atop this high-wheeler bicycle. What do you make of this image? Curator: Ah, yes, the penny-farthing! Looking at her, perched so confidently up there, I see a portrait of possibility itself. It’s almost daring, isn’t it? A woman claiming space, defying expectations, riding a machine that practically screams "Look at me!" I can imagine myself attempting that bike as a kid - immediately regretting it! Do you get a sense of liberation as well, or something else? Editor: I agree, it's definitely liberating. There's also an element of spectacle, I mean it was an advertisement after all! But it's not just selling cigarettes; it's selling a new image of women, more adventurous and self-assured. Curator: Exactly! And consider the cigarette card format itself – a tiny treasure slipped into a pack, bringing art and aspiration into everyday life. To me, it almost says, "Dare to dream, dare to ride high like this woman, dare to… light up?" It makes you wonder, doesn't it, how such a small piece could carry such big ideas. How different our culture has become! What does it tell *you* about women in sports? Editor: It's a fascinating blend of commerce, athleticism, and changing gender roles. It's like this card is a snapshot of a culture on the cusp of something new. Definitely a picture is worth a thousand words. Curator: It does! Next time I'm feeling stuck I'm going to think of that woman on the high-wheeler, perched up so high and remember to "get over it," literally and figuratively!