Life of Chauncey Mitchell Depew, from the Histories of Poor Boys and Famous People series of booklets (N79) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

Curator: This lithograph from 1888, a promotional item by W. Duke, Sons & Co., presents "Life of Chauncey Mitchell Depew" from their "Histories of Poor Boys and Famous People" series. Editor: It's fascinating how promotional materials can become historical artifacts. My first impression? Mildly unsettling. He's got a penetrating gaze that kind of follows you, doesn’t he? The soft, almost watercolour-like effect clashes with the stern expression. Curator: Indeed, the impressionistic rendering of the portrait contrasts with its purpose. The softness almost romanticizes Depew, whose gaze certainly suggests authority and ambition. Notice how the composition divides the space: the title above, his image in the center, and his name elegantly scripted below. Editor: I’m struck by the blush on his cheeks – such a rosy bloom for a man featured on a cigarette card. The colors are deliberately chosen; red accents – blush, background smudges, text highlights - emphasize vitality. Makes you wonder, does this vividness subtly promise some of that Depew dynamism to the smoker? Curator: Precisely. It operates through associations. The formality of the suit, balanced by the whimsy in the typeface for ‘Life of,’ constructs a narrative. Poor boy makes good through diligence and moral fibre…perhaps subtly equating smoking with upward mobility, through this icon. Editor: There is something darkly comedic about the fact this promotion promised the audience the life of this powerful individual if they partake in a product we know to lead to ill health today! Curator: It reflects a different time, a different understanding. Now, when we look, we are invited to question what qualities they chose to associate the man and brand with, using the visual grammar available at the time. Editor: Ultimately, the picture shows the potent artistry found even in everyday marketing. We’re seeing far more than an ad. Curator: We glimpse the threads of ambition, promotion, and societal ideals intertwined, revealing deeper truths beneath the surface.