From the Girls and Children series (N64) promoting Virginia Brights Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1886

Editor: Here we have a rather unusual piece: a promotional card, titled "From the Girls and Children series (N64) promoting Virginia Brights Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products", dating back to 1886. It seems to be made of coloured pencils and is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I must say, it's strange to see children and cigarettes combined like this. What do you make of this peculiar juxtaposition? Curator: Well, it certainly does grab your attention, doesn’t it? On the surface, it’s unsettling by today's standards. We look at it with modern eyes and instantly bristle at the marketing of cigarettes with an image of youth. Back then, though, tobacco cards were more like baseball cards, collectibles inserted into products. They featured everything and everyone – actresses, animals, even foreign flags. So, this girl is presented like any other commodity. Almost like... art for commerce's sake. It feels both whimsical and deeply unsettling. Does that make sense? Editor: It does. It's a clever observation of it being like a baseball card. So, the card, aside from being advertisement, was like a little window into that era. Curator: Exactly! What do you see in her expression? It almost tells a little story on its own. There is an implied social narrative isn't it? It invites us to imagine the life and expectations surrounding girls during that era. It is fascinating how art and culture weave together, sometimes in ways we least expect! Editor: That’s a good point. Thinking about it that way, you almost forget the cigarette part. Looking closer, she actually has an interesting gaze. The perspective changes. It is almost possible to understand more by disregarding the immediate impression of the artwork. Curator: Absolutely. It is strange isn't it? Looking beyond what's initially presented is often where the real conversations begin! What I like about art is that a simple piece carries so much more weight if observed carefully. Editor: Thanks for making me consider this historical and social setting. It enriches the overall story being told!