The artwork titled “The First Smoke. All Right,” created by Currier and Ives in 1870, aligns with the Romanticism art movement and falls under the genre of caricature.
In this artwork, a young boy is portrayed sitting on a barrel, with his arms confidently crossed. He has short, curly hair and is depicted wearing light-colored trousers paired with a dark, open jacket and a light shirt underneath. A defining feature of the caricature is the large cigar that the boy is nonchalantly smoking, with a small puff of smoke emanating from its lit end. The boy’s expression suggests a blend of self-assurance and mischievousness, adding to the humorous yet poignant nature of the piece. The illustration, rendered in monochromatic tones, reflects the artistic style and societal sentiments of the period. The title, “The First Smoke. All Right,” prominently inscribed at the bottom, further accentuates the humorous and satirical essence of the caricature, intended to elicit amusement and contemplation.
