Lord Manners, from the Racing Colors of the World series (N22b) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

Curator: This lithograph, entitled "Lord Manners, from the Racing Colors of the World series," produced in 1888 by Allen & Ginter, offers us a fascinating glimpse into late 19th-century advertising and society. It's currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: It’s immediately striking how different this is from what we consider "art" today. There's an element of caricature, certainly, but it also speaks to the promotional imagery popular at the time. Curator: Absolutely. Allen & Ginter Cigarettes used these cards as collectables. The images often depicted popular personalities or sports figures. These cards became very collectible, a visual shorthand for status and aspirations. Note the distinct style; the emphasis on color, particularly in the sash, against the more subdued tones suggests its importance. Editor: Right, and thinking about this within a social context, it highlights how industries used images of the elite to market their products, almost blurring the lines between aristocratic image and consumerism. The name "Lord Manners" alone conjures a world of refinement and exclusivity, themes directly linked to the idea of smoking high-quality tobacco. It makes one wonder who this Lord Manners really was and the kind of aspirational identity the card was trying to foster in potential customers. Curator: Looking closer at the iconography, consider the jockey's attire – the crisp white and scarlet sash, not merely functional but deeply symbolic. Horse racing had long been a favorite activity for the British upper crust. To me, the jockey almost takes on the aspect of an emblem. Editor: And his downward glance? The image, though small, encapsulates that specific era when cigarettes began their ascension to becoming lifestyle props. A small piece of visual culture like this helps us look critically into the social function art could take and how commercialism often played into that purpose. I had never quite imagined it like this! Curator: Agreed. The unassuming "Lord Manners" has opened up some rich historical and cultural veins for exploration. Editor: It certainly has. Seeing art as cultural artifact has revealed a very nuanced angle on our assumptions today.