Brigantine, from the Types of Vessels series (N139) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1889

Editor: Here we have "Brigantine, from the Types of Vessels series," made in 1889 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. It's a print made with drawing, watercolour, and colored pencil on toned paper. I’m immediately struck by how detailed and clean it is. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: This piece offers a fascinating intersection of art, industry, and labor. It's a commercial print, intended as a collectible insert for Honest Long Cut Tobacco. We must consider its *use* – as a promotional tool embedded in a system of mass production and consumption. The ‘art’ here isn't detached, it’s part of a larger network of capital. Editor: That’s interesting; I hadn’t thought of it that way. So, instead of focusing on artistic intention, we should consider the socio-economic forces at play? Curator: Precisely. Think about the laborers who manufactured these cards, the processes of lithography and printing involved. What kind of working conditions were they under? And who were the consumers of this tobacco? This image is not just a depiction of a ship, it’s an artifact deeply embedded in the industrial culture of its time. Editor: It makes you wonder about the working class. The materials, the printing techniques… all linked to labor and consumption. Curator: Absolutely. How does viewing art as a product of labor alter our perception, instead of seeing it as an untouchable creative product? Editor: I guess I’ll be thinking more about the 'how' and 'why' behind art now, and its place in everyday life. Curator: And by considering the full spectrum of production and distribution, we arrive at a more nuanced appreciation.