James Nasmyth, printer's sample for the World's Inventors souvenir album (A25) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

Curator: This is a print from 1888. It served as a printer's sample for Allen and Ginter Cigarettes' "World's Inventors" souvenir album. The subject is James Nasmyth. Editor: There’s a certain vulnerability in his eyes. Despite the formal attire, he looks like a man caught in a moment of deep thought. It feels rather intimate. Curator: The portrait adheres to conventional representations of Victorian-era male accomplishment. The inclusion in a series associated with cigarettes hints at the intertwined nature of commerce and scientific or industrial celebrity at that time. This piece, distributed by a tobacco company, implicates narratives around health, class and advertising. Editor: Definitely! The Victorians had a certain fascination with portraying themselves in a light that conveyed intellectual power. Notice the composition—the upward gaze of the eyes—this adds to the notion that Nasmyth is a visionary, someone looking towards the future. This particular gesture is meant to convey enlightenment. Curator: Right, this portrayal must be understood within the political framework of the 1880s when ideas surrounding race, gender and empire played a large role in public discourse. The distribution of this print may speak to societal views on who were deemed the architects of industry and "progress". Who were, metaphorically, 'allowed' to smoke this brand of cigarette, so to speak. Editor: I'm struck by the symbols associated with light and intellect in the portrait; for example, observe the man's prominent forehead as well as his open, earnest face. Also, his direct gaze pulls the viewer in; we are asked to engage with the soul of this inventor, the creative genius. Curator: I agree. This portrait is part of a broader system of signs reinforcing power dynamics of that era. It is meant to not only depict an individual, but uphold specific ideals that validated a very selective view of progress and merit. Editor: Looking closely, I see the face's composition, through shadow and highlight, echoes an older artistic rendering; I think, for instance, of similar portraits during the early Renaissance, especially through the emphasis of strong facial structure. Curator: Thanks, your insight is always valuable in looking at images in terms of how they reflect and inform on current narratives. Editor: Likewise. It’s these dialogues that allow us to truly understand not only art but the worlds reflected within them.