Plate 44, from the Fans of the Period series (N7) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

Curator: It’s a surprisingly intimate little portrait. It almost has an innocence to it, like a snapshot. Editor: Indeed. What we are viewing is Plate 44 from the “Fans of the Period” series (N7) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands, created around 1889. Allen & Ginter, based out of Richmond, Virginia, included these cards in their cigarette packs. Think of it as an early form of trading cards, leveraging the public’s fascination with portraiture and fashion. Curator: Fashion reduced to an advertising commodity. This piece of cardboard acted as a little billboard, so to speak, circulating amongst smokers. Do we know much about the printing process? Editor: They were printed using chromolithography, a process involving multiple stones or plates, each applying a different color. Mass production ensured these could be cheaply included in every cigarette pack. The paper itself would have been chosen for its cost-effectiveness. Allen & Ginter, understanding its audience, marketed these cards with depictions of fashionable figures and theatrical portraits as desirable collectables, influencing tastes and ideals within its target demographic. Curator: I see what you mean. The woman’s pose, looking coyly over her shoulder, isn't capturing just her likeness, but promoting a lifestyle associated with the brand. It merges commodity, image, and circulation. I am intrigued by the contrast between the delicate artistry implied in Art Nouveau and its actual function. Editor: Exactly. These cigarette cards tell us so much about the cultural landscape, from marketing tactics to societal values regarding leisure and image consumption in the late 19th century. Curator: Seeing it now, this card embodies so much more than its simple composition lets on. Editor: Quite right. It's a small window into a complex world of consumption, branding, and early visual culture.