Avocado, from the Fruits series (N12) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1891

Editor: Here we have "Avocado, from the Fruits series" made in 1891 by Allen & Ginter, a lovely little coloured pencil drawing. The first thing I notice is the figure, she almost looks like she is emerging from an avocado. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: It’s fascinating to see how a seemingly innocent commercial print reveals layers of social and cultural coding. The image is part of a series designed to promote cigarettes. But look closer: how does the romanticized portrayal of this young woman exoticize both her and the avocado? What systems of power are at play when a commercial enterprise co-opts and commodifies images linked to certain cultures for the consumption of another? Editor: That’s a really interesting perspective! I was so focused on the sweetness of the image, I hadn't considered the commercial and, dare I say, colonial implications. So you're suggesting the artist is consciously drawing on other cultures for his art? Curator: Consciously or not, the image participates in a long history of representing "otherness" for the dominant culture. Think about the visual language employed – the figure’s headscarf and patterned clothing juxtaposed with what appears to be pale skin create an orientalist narrative that reinforces established social hierarchies. Do you notice how the image plays into an expectation of how the figure should be? Editor: Now I do. And it makes me think about the ethics of representation and who gets to tell these stories. I really learned so much by analyzing this image from another perspective. Curator: Absolutely, questioning the motives and assumptions embedded within even seemingly innocuous imagery is how we can work to unravel these narratives.