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

Editor: This is "Goblet, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 3) issued by Kinney Bros.," dated 1889. It appears to be a drawing and print with ink, maybe even watercolor on top. What strikes me is this merging of portraiture with an everyday object like a drinking glass... how should we interpret this, Professor? Curator: We need to think about Kinney Brothers' mass production techniques and their targeted consumer base. It’s a promotional item, so what kind of labor practices went into creating this seemingly innocent "novelty"? Think about the paper quality, the printing process itself. It blurs the line between art and advertising. Is this "high art," or is it cleverly disguised propaganda? Editor: Propaganda, really? Because of a woman inside a drinking glass? Curator: Well, not *overt* propaganda. But promotional material always has a point of view. It's meant to persuade. Consider the context: This came from a tobacco company. Who were they trying to reach with images of this idealized woman? And at what cost - the materials used? Editor: I guess I didn't immediately consider how the image itself is secondary to its purpose as an advertisement. It definitely complicates the relationship between labor, art and consumption. So the medium IS the message in this case, then? Curator: Exactly! And by unpacking the materials and means of production, we start to see that what appears as harmless is much more calculated. How does viewing this artwork affect your personal opinion of advertisements from that time? Editor: That's… unsettling, honestly, I never thought a small drawing could reveal so much about production. Thanks, that really helped.