From the Girls and Children series (N64) promoting Virginia Brights Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1886

Editor: This is a print from 1886 promoting Virginia Brights Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter, part of their "Girls and Children" series, now at the Met. I'm struck by the figure's stiff pose, despite the vibrant colours. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Disregarding its cultural implications as advertisement, let's consider this work in terms of its formal qualities. Note how the composition is largely symmetrical. The artist employs contrasting colours; observe the juxtaposition of the woman’s red dress, patterned with floral motifs, against the subdued greens and yellows of the background. Editor: You mean how the red and gold jump out at you? But why is she holding that brightly coloured bird? Does it symbolize something? Curator: Symbolism aside, let's address your point regarding visual tension. The slight tilt of her head and the bird's angled perch disrupt what might otherwise be a static composition. Consider, too, how the textures, created through colour pencil techniques, introduce a layer of depth to the work. Is it not visually interesting to consider what would have changed with different choices by the artist? Editor: It’s fascinating how focusing on the colours, lines and forms brings out the detail I hadn't noticed before, completely divorced from its message! Curator: Precisely. By examining these choices, we arrive at a deeper engagement with the artwork, acknowledging the conscious design independent from context.