In May, we celebrate International Museum Day, where culture and tradition merge with the avant-garde. It’s the perfect excuse to sneak into five famous art galleries around the world and take a close look at five artworks where tobacco plays a starring role. Accompany this tour with a Cohiba Mini; it will surely enhance the experience.
1.‘The Smoker’ by Joos van Craesbeeck
In this self-portrait, the artist’s expressive use of smoke and the protagonist’s face draw attention. Van Craesbeeck specialized in genre painting and enjoyed depicting everyday life, particularly tavern scenes. Judging by his appearance, he seems to be enjoying himself, don’t you think? This piece resides alongside the ‘Mona Lisa’, as you can find this unique painting in the Louvre in Paris. However, as you’ll see, they have little in common.
2. ‘A Group of Danish Artists in Rome’ by Constantin Hansen
The National Gallery of Denmark, located in the heart of Copenhagen, houses another artwork that cigar enthusiasts will appreciate. This small canvas, just 62×74 cm, shows a group of Renaissance artists gathered to share a conversation while smoking long pipes. Centuries later, we can still appreciate the luxury of such a scene, even without a pipe or being artists.
3. ‘Smokers and Drinkers’ by David Teniers
Tavern. Interior. Day. In the foreground, three friends enjoy a moment of relaxation with a drink and tobacco. In the background, other characters are engrossed in a card game. These scenes, recreated in the 17th century, remain familiar to us today, although in the 21st century, smoking inside a venue is unthinkable. You can see this work in one of the world’s most important art galleries: the Prado Museum in Madrid.
4. ‘The Cigar Makers’ by Gonzalo Bilbao Martínez
On this tour, we can’t forget the iconic painting by the Sevillian artist that pays homage to the cigar makers of Seville, figures prominently featured in 19th-century literature and opera. The scene depicts the daily life in the Tobacco Factory of Seville, the first tobacco factory established in Europe and the most important industrial building of 18th-century Spain. It might remind you of ‘The Spinners’ by Velázquez, given the similar use of light and character arrangement. You can visit it at the Museum of Fine Arts in Seville, a must-visit for those interested in the origins and manufacture of tobacco in past centuries.
5. ‘The Card Players’ by Paul Cézanne
Another classic where tobacco, entertainment, and enjoyment are palpable is ‘The Card Players’ by the renowned French painter Cézanne, housed in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. In this painting, tobacco appears prominently and plays a crucial role in the scene, representing a fundamental element of leisure and sometimes even a status symbol.
We could spend hours admiring these magnificent works. But since we can’t live on art alone, let’s light up a Cuban mini cigar and keep being amazed.
