Delaware, from the Industries of States series (N117) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1889

Editor: This is a fascinating print from 1889, produced by Duke Sons & Co. to promote their Honest Long Cut Tobacco. It's part of their "Industries of States" series, and this one represents Delaware. There’s an allegorical female figure holding the American flag, standing in front of a backdrop that includes the state seal. I'm immediately struck by the way it uses the female figure to promote… tobacco. What do you see in this piece, and how would you interpret its message? Curator: This image offers a rich tapestry for deconstruction. At first glance, it appears to be a patriotic advertisement, celebrating Delaware’s industry. But, if we look through the lens of gender and labor, it reveals a more complex, and perhaps problematic narrative. How does the idealized female figure, a common symbol in allegorical representations of states, connect or disconnect from the actual labor that fueled Delaware's economy at that time? Consider who benefited from this representation. Editor: That's a good point. It's strange to think of this idealized figure connected to the often grueling reality of workers involved in "fruit and garden products." Also, her near nudity is an odd fit! Curator: Exactly! Her presence normalizes and even glamorizes the state. We must consider how such imagery obscures the exploitation that often underpins economic progress. What is omitted from this seemingly innocent image, and whose stories are silenced in this celebration of industry? Editor: So it’s not just a simple advertisement, it’s also masking potentially uncomfortable truths about labor practices at the time? Curator: Precisely. It is a representation designed to uphold the status quo, subtly reinforcing existing power structures while promoting a commercial product. The image uses a visual language intended to promote ideas about labor that benefit the company at the expense of accurate labor representations. Editor: I never would have considered all of that just by looking at it! Thanks. Curator: My pleasure. Looking beyond the surface allows us to confront the biases and inequalities embedded in historical representations.