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

Curator: From the Allen & Ginter's "General Government and State Capitol Buildings" series, we have an 1889 print entitled "Bureau of Printing & Engraving in Washington." What are your initial impressions? Editor: Stark and imposing. The red brick set against the muted sky conveys a sense of institutional authority. It makes me wonder about the messages—official documents, currency—emanating from within. Who controlled those messages, and what was their impact? Curator: The composition adheres to a rigid structure; the symmetrical balance of the building creates a sense of formality. Note how the coloured-pencil drawing style, unusual for architectural renderings of the time, adds a certain approachability, despite the subject’s inherent severity. Editor: Yes, and that's where the tension lies. These cigarette cards functioned as promotional items. Circulated widely, this image naturalized the power of the federal government by presenting it as familiar, almost picturesque. This image appeared during the Jim Crow era. The same "bureau" depicted in the card, printed the money and policies which, directly and indirectly supported those segregationist regimes and structural disparities. Curator: An astute observation. The subtle coloring, from the light-grey sky to the almost pastel grass, contributes to its harmonious whole, and the bare trees add a touch of winter. There's a deliberate attempt, through visual harmony, to reinforce an ideal of governmental order and stability. Editor: It's a powerful example of how art, even in the form of a cigarette card, becomes entangled in complex social and political landscapes. A seemingly innocuous cityscape in truth reveals the inherent contradictions within the American narrative. Curator: Precisely, considering its formal structure, the composition certainly encourages such analysis. The artistic execution invites us to consider how the architecture, representation and dissemination via such quotidian item influences societal beliefs. Editor: Ultimately, viewing these works through an intersectional lens enhances our awareness of not only the formal elements present but also the impact these designs had and continue to exert in society.