Steamship City of Peking, Pacific Mail Steamship Company, from the Ocean and River Steamers series (N83) for Duke brand cigarettes 1887

Editor: So, here we have an 1887 print called "Steamship City of Peking, Pacific Mail Steamship Company." It's from a series of cigarette cards. What I find striking is the juxtaposition of the steamship with what seems to be an idealized portrait of a young woman. What's your take on it? Curator: It’s crucial to consider the context. This imagery, embedded in advertising, tells us much about the cultural anxieties and aspirations of the time. Cigarette cards were essentially mini-billboards, circulating ideologies along with tobacco. Notice how the "Steamship City of Peking," ostensibly the subject, is framed alongside the portrait and American flag, all promoting a message of national power. Editor: I see, so it's not just about selling cigarettes. It's about selling a particular idea of America? Curator: Precisely. Consider the era: late 19th century, a time of intense industrial expansion and imperial ambition. What is the role of women in promoting consumerism and nationhood, here? How might we see the portrayal of this young woman alongside that of a vessel named after Peking – a crucial port of trade for this company and country? And note that trade often happened to the exclusion or outright disenfranchisement of those in places such as Peking. Editor: It seems like the image is connecting her beauty with the nation's wealth and expansion. Curator: It invites us to question whose interests are served by this image, and how consumer culture can become a tool of power, intertwining personal desires with larger geopolitical projects. How might different viewers, especially those marginalized by these very forces, interpret this image? Editor: So much more than just a picture on a cigarette card. Thanks! Curator: Exactly! By looking closer we understand that images can be complex arguments, reflecting and shaping the world around them.