From the Girls and Children series (N64) promoting Virginia Brights Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1886

This is an advertisement card, part of Allen & Ginter's series promoting Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Immediately, the viewer's eye is drawn to the figure of a young girl rendered in vivid reds and creams against a gold background. The composition is deceptively simple, and the subject is presented in a highly stylized manner. Observe the repeating vertical lines of the girl's outfit, which both structure and confine her image. These lines meet the curves of her ruffled collar and hat, creating a visual tension between rigidity and softness. There is a deliberate attempt to destabilize the traditional associations of innocence with childhood. The visual semiotics at play here present a complex interplay of signs. On one hand the association of youthful innocence and vulnerability, and on the other, the suggestion of pleasure and sophistication. The tension between these conflicting themes makes us consider how cultural values are assigned and contested through visual media.