About this artwork
This small chromolithograph card shows Captain Kidd burying treasure and was created by Allen & Ginter as part of their Pirates of the Spanish Main series. The composition is divided into two distinct zones. On the right, a detailed portrait of Captain Kidd draws the eye with its bold colors and sharp lines. He is framed and set apart from the blurred, sepia-toned activity of his crew on the left. This separation creates a fascinating tension. Is he part of the scene or an icon, a symbol abstracted from the gritty reality of piracy? The very structure of the image destabilizes a fixed narrative, allowing a slippage between representation and reality. The treasure, the act of burying it, is almost an afterthought, secondary to the captivating image of Kidd himself. This focus suggests a shift from the tangible wealth to the romantic allure of the pirate figure.
Captain Kidd, Burying Treasure, from the Pirates of the Spanish Main series (N19) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes
1886 - 1891
Artwork details
- Medium
- drawing, coloured-pencil, print
- Dimensions
- Sheet: 1 1/2 x 2 3/4 in. (3.8 x 7 cm)
- Location
- Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
- Copyright
- Public Domain
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About this artwork
This small chromolithograph card shows Captain Kidd burying treasure and was created by Allen & Ginter as part of their Pirates of the Spanish Main series. The composition is divided into two distinct zones. On the right, a detailed portrait of Captain Kidd draws the eye with its bold colors and sharp lines. He is framed and set apart from the blurred, sepia-toned activity of his crew on the left. This separation creates a fascinating tension. Is he part of the scene or an icon, a symbol abstracted from the gritty reality of piracy? The very structure of the image destabilizes a fixed narrative, allowing a slippage between representation and reality. The treasure, the act of burying it, is almost an afterthought, secondary to the captivating image of Kidd himself. This focus suggests a shift from the tangible wealth to the romantic allure of the pirate figure.
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