Henry Watterson, The Louisville Courier Journal, from the American Editors series (N1) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1887

Curator: Oh, hello. I must say, there's something immediately captivating about this small portrait, almost like a Victorian cameo, perhaps? Editor: You've picked up on its intimate scale, indeed! This is "Henry Watterson, The Louisville Courier-Journal," part of the "American Editors" series created by Allen & Ginter, around 1887, intended for cigarette cards. These little artworks are gems, like miniature shrines. Curator: A shrine, huh? It definitely evokes a certain…steadfastness. I get a strong impression of a no-nonsense, reliable sort of man. The newspaper masthead ghosted in the background almost feels like a halo—though that may be taking the analogy too far. Editor: No, not at all, it really is like a newspaper aura, isn't it? It’s the institution made man, almost like it is his mind projecting outward. Think about the intent behind this: a cigarette card, meant for mass distribution, transforms an editor into an icon—or a brand! This little card contains a world of meaning: from personal stories to societal trends, encapsulated by his determined look. Curator: It’s a clever move, honestly, to build the figurehead into the imagery. I think that Watterson looks a bit flushed, even feverish – not in a negative sense, but perhaps with the inner fire needed for his work. Look at how they render his features using what feels like a soft, almost impressionistic drawing style, yet capturing every crinkle and color nuance. I'd hazard it feels symbolic. Editor: It definitely speaks to the democratization of representation, transforming individuals like Watterson into symbols of journalism at a critical juncture in American history. That mustache isn't just a flourish, it’s a marker of the era and that resolute determination you speak of, even class, perhaps power. Curator: Power! It does exude influence—as if, with one curled sentence, he can sway an entire city. I’m going to stare a little bit longer at this tiny giant... Editor: A tiny giant indeed. Allen & Ginter knew what they were doing by imbuing these objects with power, packing a punch with these figures, who shaped their worlds. I’ll take one last, good look, too; there is just so much to contemplate with the way it brings out this memory, lost with the card’s original context.