From the Girls and Children series (N64) promoting Virginia Brights Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1886

This small card, part of the "Girls and Children" series, was produced by Allen & Ginter to promote Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Common in the late 19th century, these cards offer insight into the cultural and social values of the Gilded Age in the United States. The image presents an idealized vision of childhood innocence. A young boy and girl, dressed in what was then fashionable attire, stand together, their interaction suggesting a nascent romance. This sentimental scene, however, served a commercial purpose: to associate the Virginia Brights brand with purity and wholesome values, a clever marketing tactic. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, as an institution, plays a crucial role in shaping our understanding of such artifacts. By preserving and exhibiting this card, the museum encourages us to reflect on the historical context of advertising and the ways in which companies used imagery to shape consumer behavior. Delving into archives of advertising history, business records, and social commentaries can further illuminate the complex relationship between commerce, culture, and the visual arts.