Actress wearing pink brimmed hat with white feathers, from Stars of the Stage, First Series (N129) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1890

Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the extravagance. That hat is a statement! Editor: And what a portrait, rendered in the context of material culture! What we're viewing is "Actress wearing pink brimmed hat with white feathers," a print from 1890, part of the "Stars of the Stage, First Series" collection. It was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to advertise Honest Long Cut Tobacco. Curator: So, the image, beyond its immediate aesthetic appeal, functioned as a commodity signifier. Stars of the stage endorsed tobacco—talk about iconic associations influencing consumption. Editor: Absolutely. Let's consider the printing process itself. These cards, mass-produced, speak to the late 19th century's burgeoning consumer culture. Think of the layers of labor, from the artist creating the original drawing to the factory workers churning these out by the thousands. Curator: I see layers of meaning in the symbolism too. A pink brim and feathers signify more than mere fashion. The actress represents beauty and aspiration, and the plumes suggest status, even transcendence. Editor: It's a compelling example of how art and commerce intertwined. Curator: Right. I'm also drawn to the profile view. It’s very clean and classically inspired. But what's fascinating is that Japonisme also affected the profile, offering a flatter, more graphic style than classical busts would display. Editor: Exactly! This piece reminds us that the materials and production of art are just as culturally significant as the image itself. It’s about access, labor, and the complex dance between art, advertising, and society. Curator: Looking again at that elaborate hat, I can see a microcosm of all the concerns we’ve just discussed. A symbol, crafted into a thing, intended for consumption, like this piece. Editor: And that blend is what keeps me intrigued by this image. There are many connections from here to other moments and products in art and history.