Quezal, from Birds of the Tropics series (N38) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1889

Editor: This chromolithograph from 1889, "Quezal, from Birds of the Tropics series" by Allen & Ginter for Cigarettes, it’s stunning! There's a striking contrast between the lush tropical scene and the text promoting Richmond Straight Cut No. 1 Cigarettes. How should we consider its context in consumer culture? Curator: Precisely! Notice how the industrial printing process, chromolithography, allowed for mass production of these vibrant images. It transforms natural imagery into a commodity. The material reality is that it served to boost cigarette sales. Can we really divorce this ‘art’ from the context of tobacco capitalism and its marketing strategies? Editor: That’s a compelling point. So, instead of appreciating its artistic merits in a vacuum, we should think of this as a artifact that reflects industrialization and consumerism. What’s the social impact of associating this exotic beauty with a consumable product? Curator: Consider that question of 'exotic beauty’ carefully! The printing itself facilitated colonial desires to capture and own "exotic" lands, a perspective packaged for consumers. Moreover, what labor went into the tobacco production and the production of these cards? These processes are conveniently masked by the aesthetics. Editor: I never thought of it that way! It’s like the beauty distracts from the real material conditions behind it. It’s not just a pretty picture, but also about power dynamics and exploitation. Curator: Exactly. It makes us reconsider traditional notions of art that often prioritize aesthetics over the material and social conditions of its creation and consumption. This cigarette card compels us to examine what is foregrounded and what remains purposefully obscured. Editor: I am starting to see it. It’s not just an image, but it’s deeply entwined with broader economic and social systems of that time. Thank you for this new insight! Curator: It encourages us to reflect on the relationship between artistic creation and commercial processes. Seeing it through the lens of the manufacturing gives the image a completely different resonance.