Dressed Beef / Ground Hog, from the Jokes series (N118) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1890 - 1893

This chromolithograph trading card from around 1900, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co., presents us with a visually arresting set of images arranged in a rectangular format. The composition is divided into quadrants, each containing a distinct scene, unified by a playful yet unsettling engagement with anthropomorphism and visual puns. Notice how the artist juxtaposes images to create meaning. A "dressed beef", portrayed as a bovine head in formal attire, contrasts with the image of a "ground hog," depicted as a man eating a sausage, alongside a real hedgehog. This visual game destabilizes fixed meanings, challenging our understanding of representation and categorization. The stark lines and contrasting colours, typical of chromolithography, amplify the visual impact, while the absurdity of the pairings invites us to question the underlying logic of these juxtapositions. The card functions as a semiotic system where images operate as signs within a cultural code. It's not just about aesthetics; it reflects a broader cultural interest in humor, social commentary, and the destabilization of established norms.