Miss Worth as "Clear the Track," from the series Fancy Dress Ball Costumes (N73) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

Editor: This is "Miss Worth as 'Clear the Track'," a coloured-pencil print from 1889 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. It feels playful, but also a bit strange, like a costume party frozen in time. What do you make of this work? Curator: It's fascinating to consider this image within the context of late 19th-century social norms. These 'Fancy Dress Ball Costumes' were circulated as trade cards by tobacco companies. This brings up several questions: Who was Miss Worth? What does 'Clear the Track' signify? And how does the commodification of female representation in advertising intersect with constructions of gender and class? It appears on the surface as an innocent, playful portrait, but its placement within the framework of consumer culture and the male gaze asks us to interrogate the deeper societal currents at play. Notice, for instance, how her elaborate, playful attire clashes with a sense of… propriety, maybe? Editor: That’s a great point. It does feel like there's something more than just dress-up going on. Like, she's a doll to be 'collected'. Is it fair to say it objectifies her? Curator: Absolutely. It asks us to question how the female form is being used as a promotional tool, and what ideological messages are being subtly reinforced. Think about it as an early form of advertising's visual language, shaping perceptions and expectations around femininity. It’s subtle, but insidious. What do you think that tells us about today’s advertising practices? Editor: Wow, seeing it that way changes everything. I came in thinking "cute portrait," but now I see a much more complicated narrative about gender, commerce, and power. It's unsettling, in a thought-provoking way. Curator: Exactly. It’s a reminder that even seemingly innocuous images can be deeply embedded within larger structures of power and representation. Keep asking those questions!