Currants, from the Fruits series (N12) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1891

Curator: Well, this image gives me pause. It has an almost dreamlike quality to it, a soft focus that belies its purpose. There is such an uncanny combination of a young girl wearing a white bonnet picking currants with this vibrant burst of ripe berries. Editor: I find that fascinating! We are viewing “Currants, from the Fruits series (N12) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands,” which dates to 1891. The artwork comes to us via a commercial enterprise as these chromolithographs were included in packs of cigarettes. Consider it was quite clever to bring together nature, childhood innocence, and vice in such an attractive package. Curator: You’re absolutely right; there’s that peculiar tension. The girl appears as a symbol of pastoral simplicity, untouched. Yet, the advertisement links her image, and by extension nature, to a commodity, literally turning the natural world into something to be consumed for pleasure. And her garments reference ritual, so I can’t help thinking of sacrifice or a pagan offering here. Editor: Exactly, this image functions within a historical and cultural matrix. This form of advertising card gained popularity with the rise of mass consumer culture, offering a glimpse into the aspirations and values of the late 19th century. Curator: So, then, are the berries then standing in for temptation or indulgence? The bright red is undeniably striking. Is that Japonisme I see at play, informing the compositional choices? Editor: Good eyes. Japonisme exerted influence. It certainly plays with asymmetry and a close-up perspective. I appreciate you pointing out those rich color choices. That would certainly make the card pop and entice a purchase! Curator: Yes! But also consider the currents themselves, which are symbols of wealth and sweetness. They have such a compelling appeal. And the composition—everything leads your eye right back to the girl’s face! Editor: Indeed! The history of advertising tells us so much about how industry perceived its audience and their world. Thanks for exploring that commercial yet complicated history with me. Curator: And thanks for sharing a look at how symbols still speak across different eras.