Charleston, U.S.N., from the Famous Ships series (N50) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1895

Curator: Here we have a chromolithograph card titled "Charleston, U.S.N." part of the Famous Ships series by Allen & Ginter, circa 1895. What strikes you most upon seeing it? Editor: Well, immediately, I’m drawn to the almost industrial, utilitarian nature of its production as a cigarette card. There's something about the mass-produced quality that seems so disconnected from high art. Curator: Yes, and note the scale here; it is much smaller than most artistic drawings, allowing closer scrutiny and promoting its collectability. In the lithographic tones, we find an interesting use of atmospheric perspective. Editor: Exactly. Considering the likely context, given its distribution through cigarette packs, its function becomes entwined with the culture of consumerism. Were these created in-house, or farmed out? Curator: Allen & Ginter used the lithography processes to produce vibrant collectible cards, and promoted commercialism through this art form. The precision in the lines defining the U.S. Navy ship Charleston also strikes me as an interesting technical accomplishment within the framework of print production. Editor: Indeed. And this attention to detail, within the realm of something so everyday, provides a different insight. To look closely at something so easily dismissed is, in itself, a powerful act. These cards offer access into an historical context otherwise neglected by traditional narratives surrounding material culture and industrial production. Curator: It is fascinating how it embodies national pride intertwined with everyday indulgences, and challenges us to investigate not just visual form but broader themes like imperialism, propaganda, and social class at the time. Editor: Absolutely, the very act of collecting and trading them creates its own kind of ephemeral artistic landscape. Thank you for broadening the lens of what can be perceived through this card. Curator: And thank you for revealing the card's layers that connect the material means to their wide-reaching implications, especially during this time period.