What We Drink: Punch
1880
Edmond Morin's 1880 illustration 'Le Punch' playfully splits the experience of a classic cocktail into a 'before and after' visual treat. On the left, a lush still life of bottles, fruits, and foliage hints at the exotic ingredients required for the perfect mix. On the right, the payoff: a group of bearded gentlemen gather around a table, laughing and smoking as one of them dramatically ignites the punch bowl in a burst of flame. It captures the cozy, convivial spirit of 19th-century social gatherings, where the ritual of preparing the drink was just as important as drinking it.