Snow Bunting, from the Birds of America series (N4) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1888

Editor: So this is "Snow Bunting" from the Birds of America series, made in 1888 by Allen & Ginter, using drawing, painting, and watercolor print techniques. It's delicate and feels like a miniature scene. How do you see this piece? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this not just as an artwork, but as a product of its time. The fact that it's part of a cigarette card series is key. How does the context of mass production and consumption influence your understanding of its aesthetic value and place within society? Editor: I guess I hadn't really thought about it as being mass produced. So it's less about individual artistic expression and more about… meeting a demand? Does the method of creating these prints have any historical impact? Curator: Exactly! Think about the labor involved in creating these prints on a large scale. Who were the artists? What were their working conditions? Were they credited? The materiality and production methods are interwoven with social hierarchies. Also, what did the mass circulation of imagery do to the role and understanding of ‘high’ art practices such as watercolor drawing? Editor: Wow, I hadn’t considered that aspect. Seeing it now, less as a singular piece of art and more like a consumer good makes it…different. A new layer to its meaning, really. Thank you! Curator: It's all about looking at the tangible – the materials, the methods, and the socio-economic conditions that shape art. Hopefully, this provides new insight and methods of inquiry for you as well!