Crested Porcupine, from the Animals of the World series (T180), issued by Abdul Cigarettes 1881

Editor: So, here we have "Crested Porcupine," from the Animals of the World series, made in 1881 by Abdul Cigarettes. It's a colour pencil drawing and print. It seems like a simple, almost cartoonish image. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: It’s fascinating to consider the material context. This wasn't meant to be 'high art', but rather a collectible insert within a mass-produced product – cigarettes. The means of production and distribution were geared towards advertising and brand recognition. Editor: That's interesting, I never considered how the association with a consumable like cigarettes impacts our perception. Does the 'drawing' element add another layer to the artistic value, considering its commercial use? Curator: Absolutely. We tend to place "drawing" as an activity closely related to 'art', versus the more commercial implications of printing. The colored pencil drawing acts as a prototype to reproduce multiples of a commodity. We must look at the economic factors that influence the creative process here. How does the function of advertising art for consumption alter its 'artistic' meaning? Editor: So you are pointing to how the value isn’t intrinsic, but is tied to its function within a consumerist system? Curator: Precisely. It makes us question traditional boundaries between art, craft, and commercial design, because someone was making something original intended for cheap reproduction on cigarette cards. Editor: This perspective helps me see beyond the cute animal and examine how economics plays a pivotal role. Thanks for shedding some light! Curator: My pleasure. By analyzing its production and consumption, we gain insight into the complex relationship between art and the material world.