Five of Hearts, A Hearty Dinner, from Harlequin Cards, 2nd Series (N220) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

Editor: Here we have "Five of Hearts, A Hearty Dinner," a mixed-media print from 1889 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. I'm immediately struck by the whimsical nature of these chef figures, their faces replaced by hearts, diligently preparing what looks to be a grand meal. What do you make of this curious card, in terms of its symbolism? Curator: The immediate visual metaphor is the "hearty" aspect of the meal, tying sustenance to emotion. But let’s dig a little deeper: consider the context of its creation as a trade card. The image becomes a mnemonic device, associating Kinney Brothers with feelings of warmth and satisfaction. The heart-faced figures become stand-ins, almost archetypes, for care and provision. Do you think the repetitive heart motif suggests anything about the targeted consumer base at that time? Editor: That’s an interesting angle. Perhaps it was meant to evoke a sense of patriotism, or unity? I'm curious about the absence of individual facial expressions, and replacing those with a blank "heart face." Curator: Indeed, the facelessness speaks volumes. It universalizes the feeling – anyone can be a purveyor or recipient of a 'hearty' offering. It’s also a clever subversion, transforming what might be perceived as a vice – tobacco use – into a gesture of generosity and shared pleasure. Consider how such commercial art reinforced and shaped societal values and cultural memory through ostensibly simple images. Can we draw a line between that then and commercial imagery today? Editor: It definitely makes you think about the messages embedded within everyday objects, how brands shape our understanding of values like "heartiness" or satisfaction. Curator: Precisely. What initially seems like a light-hearted caricature carries a weight of cultural conditioning. It underscores the idea that visual symbols evolve to encode meaning and subtly steer emotions. Editor: I'll definitely look at trade cards differently now. Thank you!