Card Number 608, Laura Burt, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: This is a print from the 1880s, a promotional card by W. Duke, Sons & Co. from their Actors and Actresses series. The card features Laura Burt, and the composition is quite striking. How do you approach this as a formalist? Curator: Immediately, I am drawn to the interplay of textures. The smooth expanse of the figure's tights contrasts sharply with the intricate floral patterns of the wallpaper behind her, and further still, the velvet curtain framing the composition. Note also how the composition guides the eye. The figure is positioned at an oblique angle, a line running from the upper right to the lower left which establishes a certain pictorial dynamism, reinforced through coloristic variance: light skin against dark surroundings, dark hat contrasting a light backdrop, etc. What effect do you feel this strategic use of color serves? Editor: I think it definitely forces you to really *see* her form. I guess it highlights her as the primary object, because, otherwise, her image is a bit faded or washed. Curator: Precisely. Notice that while the background recedes into pattern, her physicality projects from the plane. Further observe that even in an artwork meant to promote Duke Cigarettes, the textural variance holds considerable importance. We see the flat advertising text acting to enhance—and simultaneously challenge—the artwork's otherwise more representational values. To delve deeper, consider that our assessment relies solely on internal properties. No historical context is necessary; a reliance solely on visual structures gives a comprehensive reading. Any other observations spring to your mind? Editor: The drawing is well executed, of course. What else could a formalist tell me about art? Curator: The principles apply across art history. We use structural tools such as identifying binary oppositions, recurring themes, or visual rhymes. Through deconstruction, a critic reveals layers of meaning and inherent contradictions inside the art, enriching our overall assessment. This way, what we see guides what we understand, beyond just first impressions.