Design for Trade Card [The Sun Life Assurance Society] 1880s

Editor: So, this ink drawing by Walter Crane, dating from the 1880s, is a design for a trade card for the Sun Life Assurance Society. The Roman imagery really strikes me. What do you see in this piece in terms of its historical and cultural context? Curator: It's fascinating how Crane appropriates Neoclassical imagery for commercial purposes. Consider the era – the late 19th century, a period of intense industrialization and anxieties about modernity. By invoking the Roman Empire, associated with strength, stability, and order, Sun Life is essentially branding itself with those virtues. This is a time when the emerging middle class is looking for ways to secure their futures. Editor: So, the Roman imagery is meant to instill confidence and reliability? Like, "We're as solid as the Roman Empire"? Curator: Precisely. But consider the public role of art at the time. Crane, a figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, advocated for art's social function, believing in accessible design for everyone. Isn’t it ironic that a proponent of socially conscious art is using his talent to bolster a corporation? How does the politics of this imagery play out, do you think, for different audiences? Editor: That's a really interesting point! I guess for some, it might feel empowering—this idea of security and progress—but for others, it might seem like the commercialization of history, using the past to sell a product. It is definitely conflicting. Curator: Yes. And think about who these images were aimed at and the messages that are being sent. The rise of mass media democratizes images, but who controls the narrative? Editor: I'm definitely seeing how art reflects the power dynamics of its time, not just aesthetically, but commercially, too. It’s also making me realize how Neoclassicism became a signifier for very different purposes. Curator: Exactly. It goes beyond a simple aesthetic preference. It's a deliberate construction meant to influence. Editor: I’ll never look at an advertisement the same way again! Thank you.