Beetle, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 3) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

Curator: What a peculiar artifact. The lines are interesting. Editor: Indeed. This is "Beetle, from the Novelties series," created around 1889 by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It is currently housed here at the Met. Curator: A tobacco advertisement. The intersection of commerce and art is never simple. A somewhat unnerving synthesis, though I must admit, quite intriguing. It has an unconventional composition... a portrait of a woman nestled within what appears to be a beetle’s carapace. Editor: From a formal standpoint, the juxtaposition is quite jarring. We have a very conventional portrait set against this rather bizarre beetle shape, executed via collotype print, mimicking the ukiyo-e style. It is almost Dadaist in its play with form, wouldn't you agree? The colors too…the muted browns against the creamy skin tone, with that little pop of teal on the headband. Curator: These Novelties were often printed as series. To better understand its context, it's worth examining these advertisements as cultural artifacts: how did they influence societal perspectives? These cards acted almost as miniature billboards, entering everyday life and normalizing very particular kinds of imagery, with an ideal female type. Editor: Perhaps it represents more than simply tobacco. Think about the beetle: scarabs symbolize transformation and regeneration, especially within ancient Egyptian art. Might the placement of the woman's portrait suggest the dawn of the new modern woman? A woman, of course, enjoying fine tobacco. Curator: Intriguing... And a powerful testament to advertising’s role in shaping those transformations, no matter how subtly. The way these companies weaved these everyday associations is telling, and this tiny object holds within it an abundance of cultural insights. Editor: Exactly. A rather uncanny object from the Gilded Age, revealing a potent intersection of advertising and identity, cleverly encapsulated through composition and symbolism.