J. L. Macadam, printer's sample for the World's Inventors souvenir album (A25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

Editor: Here we have "J.L. Macadam, printer's sample for the World's Inventors souvenir album (A25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes," made in 1888. It's a print, seemingly after a drawing, now held at the Met. There's something inherently unsettling about these old advertising cards and their portrayal of historical figures. How do you interpret this work within its historical context? Curator: This unsettling feeling, I think, stems from the intersection of capitalism and the glorification of invention during the late 19th century. We see the commodification of intellectual property as part of a larger societal narrative. This portrait, originally intended as a promotional item for cigarettes, raises critical questions. What were the working conditions of laborers at that time and how do those contrasts underscore existing socioeconomic disparities and inequalities? Editor: So you are saying the portrait, by design, distracts the consumer? Curator: Precisely. The image functions ideologically to serve the financial interest of Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The seemingly innocent portrait of J. L. Macadam normalizes tobacco consumption while simultaneously obscuring labor exploitation and other unethical business practices. How does this tension change how you read the portrait? Editor: That completely changes it. The formal, almost noble portrait clashes with the underlying reality of what it represents. Now, the subject's formal dress feels almost like a disguise. Curator: And remember, consider the absent narratives. Where are the women inventors? People of color? The erasure highlights prevailing biases within historical and cultural narratives, underlining the crucial work needed to challenge systemic exclusions and promote diverse representation. Editor: That’s an excellent point. I'll definitely keep that in mind. Thanks, that perspective has completely reshaped my understanding.