Shovel, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 3) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

Curator: I’m immediately struck by how unsettling yet captivating this image is, with a delicate portrait nestled within what is unmistakably a green shovel. Editor: Indeed! This is "Shovel, from the Novelties series" created around 1889 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It is part of the collection here at the Met. These novelty cards were often included in tobacco packs. Curator: So it's essentially a commercial product! That's intriguing. Tell me more about the tradition surrounding such objects in public consumption and social life during those days? What were some of the functions or symbolic meanings they might serve at the time? Editor: Well, commercial images like these were highly prevalent in the late 19th century, as mass production technologies made images more affordable. It reflects a growing culture of consumerism, using eye-catching graphics to build brand identity in a competitive market. Now the portrait seems like it is more of a secondary attribute within a bigger illustration for something else entirely different. Curator: That makes perfect sense. The positioning of the lady in the shovel, makes it feel almost as if she's been rescued from danger, but is more trapped within the shovel now. Her face is beautiful and serene, the colors soft, but she seems almost too comfortable in what I deem a precarious setting! Editor: Precisely. Consider the symbolism of the shovel itself: an instrument of labor, of digging, of revealing or burying. Yet here it's ornamented, softened by the portrait and decorative bow. This card seems to me to be all about transformation. The card elevates everyday objects, blending industry with idealized femininity to sell a rather masculine product like tobacco. Curator: It also raises questions about labor. Is this woman performing it or escaping it? Is she complicit in selling tobacco? The image offers an oddly comfortable contradiction. The layering of symbols gives it enduring strength, creating an engaging social artifact about female roles in late 19th-century society. Editor: Exactly. This image invites us to consider not only marketing strategies, but deeper questions about gender, work, and social expectations communicated through mass-produced objects. Curator: I will definitely be pausing on this next time around and observing it through the new perspective that I’ve discovered through our analysis. Thank you! Editor: It was my pleasure. Each look at this artwork is definitely a learning experience for the both of us, for sure.