Roman Horn and Cymbals, from the Musical Instruments series (N121) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1888

W. Duke, Sons & Co. created this advertisement card for Honest Long Cut Tobacco around the turn of the century. The Musical Instruments series, like many advertising cards from the time, offers us a glimpse into the cultural values and social norms of the late 19th century. These cards were tools for promoting consumer culture, but they also reveal a lot about gender and representation. The women are adorned in decorative dresses with floral and musical embellishments, styled to appeal to male consumers. Their poses, with instruments at the ready, suggests a performance, yet they're frozen in time and reduced to objects of visual pleasure. The card asks us to consider how women were portrayed and perceived in commercial culture. It also invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between art, commerce, and the construction of identity. It speaks volumes about the societal expectations placed on women.