Plate, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 5) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

Curator: This is a Plate from the Novelties series, specifically N228, Type 5, created in 1889 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It's a print, using drawing techniques, on paper. Editor: Immediately I see this circular frame—it creates a lovely sense of intimacy. The subject looks quite innocent, almost dreamlike, framed as she is. Curator: That circular composition certainly dictates our reading. I think the interplay between the girl's portrait and the enclosing shape, its colours, invite semiotic interpretation. We can examine the formal relationships at play. The cool blues and yellows of the circle contrast with the warm pinks of the portrait. Editor: Agreed. But also consider the cultural context. The Kinney Bros. issued these as "novelties"—effectively advertisements inside cigarette packs. These images often depicted idealized types. I find it interesting that we are dealing with something used to market and sell tobacco while romanticising girlhood and innocence. It feels contradictory and exploitative when considered together. Curator: Well, to analyze her portrait solely within an economic argument would overlook the artistic composition. Look closely at the drawing itself. There's remarkable attention to detail in her hair, the way the light reflects, and the shadowing defining her features. Editor: Yes, her visual construction draws our attention, no doubt about that, even idealizing her through these painterly strokes and the use of light, to establish her image and make her "likable" or trustworthy enough, for, let's not forget, selling cigarettes. And it has lasting effects as we are all still dealing with the idealized image of girls and woman being commodified to this day. Curator: I appreciate your emphasis on socio-historical narratives and its ties to current events. On that note, it would be interesting to investigate whether any consumer data regarding their perception of feminine ideals exist. Editor: Perhaps our listeners can delve deeper into that information, as well as other artworks from this same producer!