Capitol of the United States in Washington, from the General Government and State Capitol Buildings series (N14) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

Editor: This is "Capitol of the United States in Washington," a coloured pencil and print drawing made in 1889 by Allen & Ginter. It seems incredibly detailed for a print, almost photographic, but there's a slightly dreamy quality to the pastel shades of blue and brown. What strikes you about it? Curator: The most interesting thing is considering its original context: a cigarette card. These weren't high art, but widely distributed images that shaped public perception. The stately image of the Capitol aimed to project power and stability but consider, who was this imagery for? Editor: What do you mean? Curator: Allen & Ginter were marketing to a predominantly white, male audience. This image subtly reinforces ideas of American exceptionalism and the power structure of the time. Do you think that the artistic style adds or detracts from the feeling of authority? Editor: The level of detail does give it a sense of accuracy, of concrete reality. At the same time, those soft colors create a sense of romanticism. So it both idealizes and presents the building as fact. It's propaganda! Curator: It is! Think about how this image functions in contrast to the lived realities of many Americans at the time – especially marginalized communities. And even now, these kinds of images still influence our perception. Editor: It is weird to think that something like a cigarette card could carry so much social weight. But then I guess art is always doing that, reflecting power back at us. Curator: Precisely. It highlights how even seemingly innocuous images play a role in constructing national identity. It makes me wonder what’s on today’s equivalent of cigarette cards!