Caricatured figure / Santa Claus has to Furnish the Stockings, from the Jokes series (N87) for Duke brand cigarettes 1890

Editor: Here we have a print from 1890 titled "Caricatured figure / Santa Claus has to Furnish the Stockings" by W. Duke, Sons & Co. It’s... jarring. The exaggerated features are quite unsettling. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Indeed. What we see is a visual manifestation of late 19th-century racial stereotypes. It’s crucial to acknowledge that this image, created for a cigarette brand, participated in the widespread dehumanization of Black people for commercial gain. Notice the title itself, "Santa Claus has to furnish the Stockings" paired with this imagery, how might it reinforce existing power structures? Editor: I hadn’t thought of it that way. The idea of "Santa Claus" usually evokes generosity and kindness. Curator: Exactly. But here, that benevolence is subverted by a racist caricature, creating a deeply troubling contrast. These images weren’t just innocent jokes; they were part of a larger system of oppression. Think about how such depictions permeated popular culture and normalized discriminatory attitudes. What effect might it have on children seeing these images? Editor: It's horrifying to think about how desensitized people could become to these racist tropes. The caricature becomes normal and that's the problem. Curator: Precisely. This print offers us a glimpse into the historical context of racist ideologies. Editor: Looking at it now, it's a stark reminder of the work we still have to do in dismantling systemic racism. Curator: Absolutely. Confronting these images allows us to critically examine the past and build a more equitable future.