Admiral, Netherlands, from the Naval Flags series (N17) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1886 - 1891

Editor: So this is “Admiral, Netherlands, from the Naval Flags series,” printed between 1886 and 1891 by Allen & Ginter. It’s a small print, a cigarette card really, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There's something about the combination of the stern admiral and the slightly cartoonish flag that strikes me as quite charming. What catches your eye? Curator: Charming indeed! To me, this little gem whispers tales of late 19th-century consumer culture. Imagine a world where collecting these cards was a widespread craze. This particular card is part of a set celebrating naval flags, but it's also an advertisement for cigarettes. The pairing is unexpected but revealing. The admiral exudes a sense of authority and worldliness, doesn't he? Almost like the cigarette brand promising a life of sophistication and adventure with every puff. Tell me, does the style remind you of any artistic movements? Editor: You know, it does have a hint of Ukiyo-e about it, that stylized portraiture and flattened perspective... It feels somehow disconnected from reality. Do you think that was intentional? Curator: Precisely! I wonder if the artists were deliberately channeling the exoticism of Ukiyo-e prints to further enhance the sense of adventure linked with smoking these cigarettes? That hint of fantasy transforms an everyday product into a ticket to explore other cultures. I’m always fascinated by what these fleeting glimpses into history tell us about consumerism and cultural exchange. Editor: I never thought of cigarette cards as such potent cultural artifacts! It makes me see the Met's collection in a whole new light. Curator: Indeed. Now you might even fancy a smoke…of knowledge!