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

Curator: This is a colored-pencil drawing, also an etching and a print, made in 1889. It’s part of the “General Government and State Capitol Buildings” series for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. Editor: Well, my first impression is that it seems overly detailed, almost obsessively rendered for something destined for a cigarette pack. I’m intrigued by the material cost and labor invested in such a small, disposable object. Curator: Consider the golden dome atop the building—that catches the light. It symbolizes not just wealth but also enlightenment and divine guidance, themes often linked to governance and state power. Editor: Yes, but that shimmering gold clashes rather uncomfortably with the flat pastel tones. I wonder what materials they used and who exactly was commissioned to produce this imagery for a mass audience. Was it a way of classing up the cheap thrill of smoking? Curator: Allen & Ginter employed artists trained in rendering techniques—etching specifically lends itself to detail. The neoclassical style connects this structure to ideals of classical republic and democracy. The hope, no doubt, was to imprint those associations onto consumers. Editor: Interesting point about Neoclassicism, and its connection to power, but I still see a tension. This meticulous detailing must have been incredibly labor intensive for such a throwaway culture artifact, an advertisement designed for immediate consumption. It makes you wonder about the value – or lack thereof – assigned to the human element within those processes. Curator: Cigarette cards also provided small glimpses into American society, spreading ideals to a broader population, even if as you point out it was tied to consumerism. Buildings represent civic values, whether they are entirely in reach for the average person, or not. Editor: Absolutely, and the image reveals much about the aspirational imagery used to cultivate and market those civic values and perhaps obscure less romantic aspects about their industrial means and profit-seeking aims. It all was about accessibility via nicotine, after all! Curator: Indeed, even small things like cigarette cards can tell larger tales. A good reminder that even fleeting images contain lasting meanings. Editor: Exactly, I am fascinated to remember how many of these gorgeous artifacts end up. So disposable and forgotten. A good memento-mori to capitalism, really.