Tobacco Box Cover c. 1937

This is Eugene C. Miller's painting of a tobacco box cover. The cover itself would have been crafted from wood, likely planed and sanded for smoothness, and adorned with a decorative metal inlay. The choice of materials speaks volumes. Wood, a natural, workable substance, contrasts with the refined, possibly mass-produced metal element. Consider the labor involved: a woodworker carefully shaping the box versus the metal component created through industrial processes. The cover would have functioned as an object of both utility and perhaps also status, reflecting the rise of consumer culture and the commodification of leisure. Tobacco itself, of course, had a complicated history, being a product that was both pleasurable and tied to systems of exploitation. Miller's close study of the object invites us to reflect on the everyday items we often overlook, reminding us of the complex relationships between materials, making, and social context. It's a reminder that even the simplest objects have stories to tell.