Webster Cigar advertisement sketch study 

Edwin Georgi made this sketch study for a Webster Cigar advertisement. The context is the mid-twentieth century, a time when advertising was becoming a sophisticated and pervasive force in American culture. Georgi's image offers a glimpse into the aspirational lifestyle being sold to consumers. We see an attractive couple enjoying leisure time, signaling affluence through their clothing and surroundings. The cigar becomes a symbol of success and relaxation. What is interesting is the institutional side of this. An artist like Georgi would have been deeply embedded in the advertising industry, with his skills honed to create appealing images that could drive sales. To understand better the role of this image, we can look into the archives of advertising agencies, market research, and the history of consumer culture during this period. This will tell us how such images shaped social values, gender roles, and the pursuit of the American dream.