Mlle. Brambilla in "Excelsior", from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

Curator: Let's discuss "Mlle. Brambilla in 'Excelsior'," a print dating between 1886 and 1890, produced by Goodwin & Company. It is a promotional card for Old Judge Cigarettes and is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. What strikes you upon first viewing? Editor: The overwhelming sense of ethereality, despite being a promotional print. The pose, the sepia tones, it all contributes to a fleeting, dreamlike state, captured as a lasting aesthetic impression. Curator: Precisely. Let's consider the conditions of production. These cards were churned out en masse as advertising ephemera, cheap giveaways packaged with cigarettes. To what extent does knowing the origin influence our appreciation of it as art? Editor: Not in the least. The pictorial balance, the almost photographic clarity—these exist independent of its commercial function. The careful arrangement of light and shadow defines its form. Curator: I disagree, somewhat. To fully understand this image, you must recognize its intended role. The card presents an idealized, glamorous vision meant to elevate the Old Judge brand, appealing to consumer desires for luxury and artistry in their everyday life. The value lies in observing its interaction between artistic merit and marketing strategy. Editor: Even still, look at the execution, the subject is a vision. There's an elegant formality in the ballerina's graceful bearing and positioning within a structured visual framework, the curve of her tutu echoing the set decoration. The balance between the human form and negative space is itself evocative, regardless of function. Curator: I concede that the piece succeeds on a purely formal level, despite the intentions of commerce. But dismissing the original commercial agenda obscures the complex interplay between labor, consumption, and representation present at the time. That context adds critical depth. Editor: Perhaps it elevates, instead. It reveals something new about how it represents value. Ultimately, I’m swayed most by how light reflects off her tulle skirt, evoking motion through static image. Curator: Yes, it really showcases a captivating tension. Editor: It seems our analysis, both grounded in materiality and in pure form, is enriched through collaborative viewpoints.