2007-2008 ACEOs
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Since picking up my graphite pencils, I've decided to explore
the world of ACEOs (or Miniatures) which can be very challenging.
ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals."
These
cards have one main rule - they are 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches - the size of a
trading card.
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Art cards or miniatures were the rage in the 16th century. They were mostly portraits and they were sold, not traded or given away. They were the first wallet "photos". Men would have nudes painted of their Mistresses on art cards (without their wives knowing)--usually by the same Artist that would do the big family portraits of their wives and children. Miniature Portraits would also be used for exchange when rich people arranged marriages. In fact, this caused a big problem for poor Henry the Eighth, when the artist who painted his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, took a little too much "artistic license". Poor Anne was not up to standard and Henry divorced her.
The French artists were the first to come up with advertisement on the art cards, as the first "business cards." It wasn't until the mid-1700's that the English picked up on the idea of using the Art cards for advertising and business as well.
During the Impressionist Age artists traded art cards among themselves to study each other's style and techniques. They also traded or sold the art cards as necessary for art supplies, food and lodging.
In 1887 "baseball" cards started to appear. These early cards are now very rare and it is uncertain what they were made of. They were not mass produced. During the period 1902 - 1935 baseball was in its golden years. Cards during this time were usually sold with bubble gum, chewing tobacco and cracker jacks. As they were marketed with different size products, baseball cards were different sizes and it was not until the 1960s that the modern 2.5 x 3.5 size was standardized.
Today there is a huge resurgence of hand made art cards for sale and trade.