Agnes Huntington as "Queen of the Vineyard," from the series Fancy Dress Ball Costumes (N73) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

This small chromolithograph shows Agnes Huntington, dressed as the “Queen of the Vineyard,” made around 1880 by W. Duke Sons & Co. What immediately strikes you is the playful yet somewhat unsettling composition. The symmetry of Huntington's face is disrupted by the asymmetrical arrangement of grapes and leaves adorning her head and neck. The glass of wine perched precariously atop her head introduces an element of surreal instability. The colour palette, dominated by soft pastels, contrasts with the almost grotesque abundance of fruit, creating a tension between elegance and excess. The image itself exists as part of a series of promotional cards for Duke cigarettes. This juxtaposition of high-society fashion with commercial advertising reveals an underlying structure of desire and commodification. The image functions as a sign, enticing consumers through an association with beauty, luxury, and perhaps a hint of the forbidden. The figure is idealized, yet it is presented as a commodity. The card's function destabilizes established meanings, inviting us to consider how cultural values, consumption, and representation intertwine.