Blackberry, from the Fruits series (N12) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1891

Editor: So, here we have "Blackberry, from the Fruits series," done in 1891 by Allen & Ginter using colored pencil and print. There's this incredible delicacy to the whole piece. I can't help but wonder, what's your take? What strikes you most? Curator: Delicate indeed, like a whispered secret from a bygone era. It almost feels like peering into a scented daydream, doesn't it? This card, intended to stiffen cigarette packs, shows a portrait with a young girl and berries, rendered with an almost confectionary sweetness. The hazy background, like powdered sugar… I imagine this little girl stepping out from the Victorian parlor, clutching her bramble bounty. Editor: A bramble bounty – I like that! How much stock do you put into that confectionary sweetness being intentional versus a product of the style? Curator: Ooh, a marvelous question! Knowing this was advertising, there's surely a deliberate push toward idealizing youth and nature, linking it to the simple pleasures, even masking tobacco use. But it goes deeper. It evokes a sense of innocence. And beyond the intention of its creation, can’t we admire how they found artistic potential in commercial function? Editor: Definitely a point. It's easy to be cynical, but seeing the artistic merit is important. I might even try to recreate some art using the techniques they use with vintage mediums. It feels more attainable. Thank you, that was enlightening! Curator: My absolute pleasure! Just remember to add your own blackberries to it. Keep it real!