Asbury Park, New Jersey, from the Surf Beauties series (N232), issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

Editor: This is "Asbury Park, New Jersey, from the Surf Beauties series," printed by Kinney Bros. in 1889. It's a charming little print. She looks like she’s ready to brave the ocean…or at least dip a toe! I wonder, what story does this image tell you? Curator: Oh, this little beauty transports me. It’s like stepping back into a hazy summer day in the late 19th century. I feel the weight of those woolen bathing costumes – can you imagine swimming in that? It's a far cry from our bikinis, isn’t it? What strikes me is the implied narrative: She's on the cusp of adventure, maybe a bit hesitant. There’s something very intimate about catching her in this moment, before the plunge. Editor: Absolutely! Her expression is intriguing. It's like she's caught between excitement and apprehension. Is that typical for the time period? Curator: That mix of emotions, the sort of "demure-but-daring" vibe, was quite popular in these genre scenes and portraits, reflecting societal expectations. They loved capturing women poised on the edge of experience. But tell me, does the medium, a humble tobacco card, influence how you perceive the artwork itself? Editor: That's a great question. Knowing it was a tobacco card makes it feel more accessible. Not high art, but everyday life. Like a snapshot in time for the average person. Curator: Precisely! It's a reminder that art doesn't always reside in gilded frames. Sometimes, it's tucked into a pack of cigarettes, waiting to be discovered, a little portal into another era. And who knows how many hands it passed through? Editor: I hadn't considered that. It adds a whole other layer of depth. Curator: Exactly! It’s lovely to think about isn't it? Editor: Definitely, I'll remember this next time I stroll through the Met. It really does transform how you view these everyday genre paintings!