Card 7, from the Girl Baseball Players series (N48, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1886 - 1888

Editor: So, this is "Card 7, from the Girl Baseball Players series" from 1886-1888, by Allen & Ginter, housed here at the Met. It's part of a series of collectible cards originally included in packs of Virginia Brights Cigarettes. It has a faded, dreamlike quality and sort of romanticized feel to it. What catches your eye about this one? Curator: That sepia tone is intoxicating, isn't it? Like stepping into a hazy memory. The women are presented not just as athletes but as idealized figures. Look at the composition - it reminds me of classic portraiture of the time. These 'genre paintings,' as they're often classified, elevate the everyday. Notice, too, how the baseball field fades into an almost theatrical backdrop. Do you think that detracts from the athletic prowess portrayed? Editor: I think it actually adds to it, making the figures appear larger than life almost... mythic. I can almost feel the echoes of ukiyo-e in the composition and treatment. But aren't the cigarettes an odd sponsor for these athletes? Curator: Precisely! The tension is part of the allure. Sport, health, leisure juxtaposed against a product ultimately detrimental to well-being. These cards weren't simply advertising; they were tiny windows into a shifting cultural landscape, the rise of consumer culture and changing roles for women. It also makes me think how perceptions changed over time: today, sponsoring of sports by producers of tobacco or alcohol would be totally unacceptable! So, these cards spark quite the contrast and interesting contradiction! What does that make you think about now? Editor: It highlights the evolving dynamics between sports, sponsorship, and societal values. It makes you wonder what kind of commentary future generations will read in our promotional art of today. Curator: Indeed, each image whispers tales beyond the surface, begging us to reconsider our preconceived notions. I learned so much! Thanks!