Washington Territory, from Flags of the States and Territories (N11) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

Editor: Here we have "Washington Territory, from Flags of the States and Territories" created by Allen & Ginter in 1888. It's a color print that seems to incorporate both drawing and coloured-pencil techniques. I find the layering of imagery, with the flag-like image set against the landscape, really striking. What's your take on it? Curator: What's fascinating here is its context: a cigarette card. This collapses the distinction between high art and mass production. Consider the materials - relatively cheap paper, colored inks - used to create something meant for ephemeral consumption, like tobacco. Yet, within that frame, Allen & Ginter employ artistry. The drawing itself displays a rudimentary yet effective visual language to convey a sense of place and identity. Editor: So, it's not just about the image itself but how and why it was made? Curator: Precisely. Think about the social function of these cards. They were collected, traded, and offered glimpses into a broader world. The image becomes a commodity, bundled with another commodity - cigarettes. It promotes both the consumption of tobacco and an idea of "Washington Territory." What's that connection suggesting to its original audience? Editor: It's like a collectible advertisement. And now, of course, a museum piece. Curator: It invites questions about value, labor, and the relationship between art and commerce. How do materials and means of production shape our understanding and appreciation of such an object? This print used inexpensive processes to fuel consumerism while simultaneously shaping cultural perceptions about place and labor. Editor: That's so interesting! It reframes how I think about even what "art" can be. Thanks for opening my eyes! Curator: It shows us art embedded in daily life; each one of us shapes that art even as it is being made. That changes everything.