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

This promotional card, printed for Allen & Ginter, presents a pastoral scene: a young girl milking a cow, evoking innocence and agrarian life. The act of milking, seemingly simple, resonates with ancient symbols of nourishment and maternal care, harking back to depictions of goddesses nurturing humanity. Consider how this scene contrasts with its purpose: advertising cigarettes. The juxtaposition creates a tension, a subconscious play between purity and indulgence. We see similar themes in the Renaissance era. The Venus figure, an allegorical representation of beauty, love, and fertility is juxtaposed with the reality of consumerism. The image's idyllic nature may trigger a collective memory of simpler times. The cow, universally understood as a symbol of provision, becomes intertwined with the commercial allure of tobacco, highlighting the complex ways in which our desires are shaped. This card is not merely an advertisement; it is a cultural artifact that lays bare our intertwined longing for purity and pleasure.