Plate 28, from the Fans of the Period series (N7) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

Editor: This is Plate 28 from the Fans of the Period series, made in 1889 for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. It’s a colored pencil drawing and print of a woman holding a fan. I'm struck by how staged and artificial she looks. How do you interpret this work within its historical context? Curator: That sense of artificiality is key. Consider that these cards were inserted into cigarette packs. The primary consumer would have been male. How does this image participate in the construction of femininity for a male gaze in the late 19th century? Notice how the fan becomes an almost theatrical prop, used to frame and present the woman. Editor: So, it’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about presenting a specific, marketable image of womanhood. What is the significance of the fan itself? Curator: Exactly. The fan, in this context, acts as both a symbol of elegance and a barrier. It suggests a degree of coyness and constructed mystique, which, within the confines of the male gaze, heightens the allure of the subject. Who do you think was able to afford the luxury to even care for a handheld fan back then? Editor: Probably just women in high society. It is intriguing to think about this small image as a reflection of gender dynamics and class structures of the time. I didn't expect it to have so much to say! Curator: These cards are powerful precisely because they’re so commonplace. They normalize and circulate ideas about gender, class, and desirability. The Art Nouveau style further emphasizes the ornamental function of women within this framework. Hopefully now you appreciate the importance of situating everyday images within broader social narratives. Editor: I certainly do. Thanks to you, I now realize there is much more going on than I initially perceived.