Arms Port, from the Parasol Drills series (N18) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

Editor: So this is "Arms Port, from the Parasol Drills series" created in 1888 by Allen & Ginter. It has such a bright, cheerful, but also quite formal feel about it. What jumps out at you? Curator: It’s the umbrella itself, really, which acts less as practical object and more as symbolic prop. Think of the Ancient Egyptian scepters; handheld objects denoting authority. This umbrella acts as an extension of her fashionable agency. It presents, perhaps, the notion of a ‘storm’ of social life, which she expertly navigates. What do you make of the parasol’s colour? Editor: It's a striking red against the other pastel shades. Is that intentional, do you think? Curator: The colour vibrates with passion. It stands as a counterpoint, hinting at the vivacity beneath the composed exterior, almost an unconscious expression within a rigid social framework. Red, of course, traditionally signifies life, fire, even blood. Do you think this contrasts with the advert context of the piece? Editor: Definitely. Knowing it’s for cigarette promotion, the subtext is jarring. Life, fire, blood associated with something that is essentially promoting a slow death. That feels incredibly contradictory. Curator: It speaks volumes, doesn’t it, about how potent and conflicted symbolism can be, shaped both by conscious and unconscious intentions and by a culture's deeper associations. What have we learned? Editor: How everyday items like an umbrella can become powerful symbols depending on their context and colour!