Left Shoulder Arms, from the Parasol Drills series (N18) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

Editor: Here we have “Left Shoulder Arms” from the Parasol Drills series by Allen & Ginter, made in 1888. It’s a delicate, almost ephemeral print, I suppose made to advertise cigarettes, which feels ironic. I'm interested to know what significance these accessories would have had at the time? Curator: Notice how the parasol and the roses function almost like weapons. Even the series title, "Parasol Drills," suggests a militaristic, performative action. Consider the parasol: it’s a shield against the sun, a status symbol, but wielded a certain way, it becomes an instrument of social fencing. Editor: Social fencing, that’s interesting! So it's more than just a pretty picture? Curator: Absolutely. Look at the bouquet. Roses symbolize love and beauty, of course, but in the Victorian era, specific varieties and colors carried coded messages. What do you suppose the overall message is, considering that this card promoted cigarettes? Editor: Perhaps an advertisement hinting at romance and beauty, or some sort of cultivated upper-class appeal? Curator: Exactly. Allen & Ginter understood how to imbue everyday objects with cultural weight. They weren't just selling cigarettes; they were selling an aspiration. The woman's tools of defense are transformed into desirable symbols, potent images for an aspirational buyer. What do you make of the title "Left Shoulder Arms," referencing a rifle-bearing stance? Editor: I hadn't really thought of it that way. It's intriguing how loaded such a seemingly simple image can be. So the image subtly links societal elegance to this very unfiltered symbol. Curator: Yes! These layered, symbolic associations, repeated in culture over time, reflect enduring psychological needs: security, status, belonging. I’m left wondering: what cultural codes are being embedded in today’s consumer imagery?