Portrait of a Man Lighting a Cigarette c. 1930s

Wayne Albee made this photograph, Portrait of a Man Lighting a Cigarette, sometime around the turn of the century. At this time photography was gaining traction as an art form. It seemed to promise a new visual language in a rapidly modernizing world. The image is deceptively simple; a man is captured mid-motion, his face illuminated by the flame of a match as he lights a cigarette. The photograph creates meaning through its intimate portrayal of an everyday act. In the early 20th century, cigarette smoking was becoming increasingly popular, even glamorous, thanks to clever marketing. However, we can also consider the institutional history that might have influenced it. Was Albee consciously commenting on the rising trend of smoking, or was he simply capturing a moment in time? As historians, we can explore Albee's personal history, the social context of his time, and the emerging trends in photography to better understand this image. Ultimately, the meaning of art is contingent on the social and institutional context in which it is created and interpreted.