A Short History of General George Gordon Meade, from the Histories of Generals series of booklets (N78) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

Curator: This portrait, titled "A Short History of General George Gordon Meade," comes from an 1888 series of booklets inserted into Duke brand cigarettes. Editor: My first thought? Those rosy cheeks! They're a little jarring against the military garb, aren’t they? Almost clownish, yet he seems to wear them with steely-eyed seriousness. Curator: They're rather a caricature, intended as one of many collected in albums--miniature portraits designed to promote cigarette consumption. The portraits offer up almost baseball card-like collectability, printed using colour pencil. One has to wonder at the audience. Who bought them? And who made them? Editor: It’s fascinating to consider these within the landscape of industrial capitalism and emergent consumer culture. How different is this "art," really, from propaganda? How far does that reach into consumer psychology and marketing through portraits today? Curator: Yes, precisely! The labour invested in each tiny image… to flatter not only the general, but, bizarrely, the consumer by association. The paper itself speaks volumes, given its purpose—meant to be crumpled, smoked, disposed of after brief enjoyment. Ephemeral, but meticulously crafted to perpetuate a certain ideal, you know? Editor: It really underscores how materials and means determine our interpretation. Take it out of that context, blow it up and frame it, and suddenly you have... what? Commentary on the human cost of war and of manufacturing? The art almost screams *labor* to me! Curator: Maybe the rosy cheeks are less a gentle glow and more a blush, perhaps of shame that we could elevate them to these roles, as he stares accusingly down upon the viewer through time itself! Editor: Perhaps you’re right, Artist! From collectible propaganda to commentary—the context does shape the narrative powerfully. Curator: In miniature format as they are, in a large series, it feels quite personal that we may question the entire process of consumption from 1888 until today... Editor: Quite so, it is humbling indeed, perhaps now I should try to find the full set!