Hand mirror with woman in feathered collar, from the Novelties series (N122) issued by Gail & Ax Tobacco to promote Navy Long Cut 1889

Editor: This mixed-media print from 1889, called "Hand mirror with woman in feathered collar," was part of a series by Gail & Ax Tobacco. It really has an Art Nouveau feel to it. The portrait is beautiful, but something about the handle feels…unexpected. What strikes you when you look at it? Curator: Unexpected is a delicious way to put it. It’s more than decorative art, it's a glimpse into the dreams people were weaving at the time. Notice the woman's serene gaze contrasted against the somewhat strange handle adorned like a beetle. That marriage is where the art winks at us, don't you think? There’s a tension, a strange beauty, where vanity and… well, the cyclical nature of life collide. Gail & Ax used images to connect to their clients’ lifestyle and aspiration. Does the symbolism land? Editor: I see what you mean! So it's almost like the mirror, with its associations with vanity, is held up by this… beetle-like handle? Does that mean that the mirror’s reflecting the natural world and not just her face? Curator: Exactly! Or perhaps the mirror doesn’t merely show what *is,* but what will inevitably *be* – we all transform, like the beetle. These were distributed to sell tobacco. But more than just promotion, imagine glimpsing this little artwork and dreaming of a transformative life. It’s the promise that within small everyday moments is art, reflection, and a transformation always. A potent promise, isn't it? Editor: That gives me a whole new perspective! I guess everyday objects can carry so much meaning if you really look. Curator: Indeed! Now, off you go, with mirror-eyes anew!