Plate 32, from the Fans of the Period series (N7) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

Curator: This is "Plate 32" from the "Fans of the Period" series, created in 1889 by Allen & Ginter, advertising their cigarettes. Editor: She's utterly charming! It's this air of quiet mischief – like she's in on some delightful secret. And that hat! It’s screaming 'Look at me!' but the finger to the lips is saying 'Hush, darling, don’t tell.' It's beautifully printed, too, the colors are so vibrant. Curator: Indeed. The "Fans of the Period" was one of several sets produced by Allen & Ginter, featuring portraits in colorful settings. These were collected avidly; small cards packaged inside cigarette packs offering a little jewel of popular culture. Editor: A jewel indeed. I imagine these illustrations made smoke breaks even more delicious. The way the artist uses color – especially in the hat and the fan – almost creates a sense of vibration, a subtle kind of shimmer. I feel like I am observing an exciting party going on. And, honestly, who wouldn't want to sneak off and hear a bit of spicy gossip? Curator: Exactly. These cards provided glimpses into an idealized world of leisure and refinement, far removed from the realities of industrializing America. Each element of the woman's attire would have been laden with significance and status, signifying fashionable appeal to the brand. Editor: So much is unspoken here, all those coded messages in the colors and fan, that glance off to the side! She embodies the coy flirtation that's so... addictive. I guess they really nailed the brief for a cigarette card, a little tantalizing something for the masses. Curator: Precisely. And now they reside within the Met collection—snapshots of their time, capturing the essence of that era's aesthetic sensibilities. It illustrates the power of advertising and marketing in influencing social and cultural narratives. Editor: I love how a humble cigarette card can become this time capsule filled with secret meanings, reminding us that even the smallest objects can hold big stories. Curator: And what's often overlooked now, its artistic merit; the skilled use of color pencils in reproducing fashionable impressions, to attract and engage its intended audience.