“The First Cigar,” a lithographic artwork created by John Gast in 1870, United States, depicts a group of young boys in a moment of juvenile mischief. The focal point of the artwork is a group of boys gathered around a streetlamp in what appears to be an urban setting, with their attention fixed on a boy who is nervously experiencing his first cigar. The scene captures the innocence and mischief of childhood as the boys, garbed in tattered clothes, participate in an impromptu initiation of sorts.
The boys’ expressions vary from amusement to curiosity, with one particularly distressed boy leaning against the pole, presumably feeling the adverse effects of his first inhalation. Their attire and the worn environment suggest a lower socio-economic background, highlighting the rough-and-tumble nature of their everyday lives. The composition, through its realistic portrayal and attention to detail, reflects the 19th-century American urban experience, imbuing it with a sense of authenticity and nostalgia.
