“The Smoker’s Promenade” is an artwork created by Currier and Ives in 1876, during the period associated with Romanticism. The genre of the piece is caricature, intended to convey humor or social commentary through exaggerated depiction of its subjects.
The caricature illustrates a variety of characters partaking in smoking, each representing different social classes and ethnic backgrounds. In the center, a figure exuding authority and perhaps wealth, stands with a top hat, smoking a large cigar. To the left of this central figure is an African man, possibly a caricature of a native African or a man of African descent, smoking a pipe, and beside him we see a man of Asian appearance, depicted with overt racial stereotypes, sitting and offering fruits or goods. On the far right, there’s an Indigenous American character holding a long pipe. Each figure is endowed with exaggerated features and attributes that are typical of the caricature style of the period. Smoke billows all around them, adding a sense of atmosphere and connection among the diverse individuals, yet also hinting at the widespread prevalence of tobacco usage.
The bottom of the image contains text reflecting on the ubiquity of smoking as part of the human experience across various cultures and societal standings, stating, “Smoking is the consolation of the universal nation; From the hovel to the palace, All enjoy Tobacco’s solace.”
The image is a striking depiction of 19th-century perspectives on smoking and the association of tobacco with social identity, reflecting both the cultural fascination with and normalization of smoking in society at that time. The work serves as an intriguing historical document, revealing the attitudes towards tobacco and its pervasiveness across different societal levels and ethnic groups.
