This colorful collage takes us back to a fascinating era when advertising was basically the Wild West - no rules, no limits, and some truly eyebrow-raising marketing strategies! From the 1930s through the 1960s, cigarette ads were a masterclass in creative persuasion, featuring everyone from Hollywood glamour queens to friendly neighborhood doctors. Back then, the advertising world operated on a completely different set of assumptions. Companies genuinely believed they were promoting a sophisticated lifestyle choice, and the medical community was still figuring out long-term health effects. It was an era of bold claims and confident messaging - "Scientific Evidence!" proclaimed one headline, while another cheerfully declared "Trust the Science!" with the same enthusiasm we might use to promote a new smartphone today. The celebrity endorsements were particularly entertaining. Movie stars didn't just smoke cigarettes - they made them look like the height of sophistication and glamour. The blonde bombshell archetype became synonymous with elegance and modernity, while doctors in white coats lent an air of medical authority that seemed perfectly reasonable at the time. What's remarkable is how these vintage ads represent a snapshot of American optimism and trust in both science and celebrity culture. People genuinely wanted to believe that their favorite products were not just enjoyable but beneficial. The halftone printing technique and bold typography capture that mid-century confidence in progress and innovation. This piece serves as a fun time capsule, reminding us how dramatically advertising standards, medical knowledge, and cultural attitudes have evolved. It's a colorful reminder that every era has its own logic and blind spots!

Exact Dimensions (ex. 10.5" x 8.25" x 2")

30" X 30" X 2.5" I also offer custom sizes, framing and substrates! Contact Laurie at the gallery for more info.

Year Created

2025

Materials

Fine Art Canvas Wraps are printed directly onto museum quality canvas material using high-quality archival inks. Glossy Laminate is applied to each piece to protect the surface of the print. The print is then wrapped around an artist's stretcher frame.

Name Of Artist (So You Are Searchable!)

TB Murphy