Lantern, from the Miniature Novelties series (N120) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1891

Duke Sons & Co. produced this colorful lithograph for Honest Long Cut Tobacco as part of their Miniature Novelties series. These cards were immensely popular, offering a glimpse into the idealized aesthetics of the late 19th century while promoting consumer culture. The card juxtaposes two portraits of young women, one framed by an ornate lantern, the other by an oval shape evocative of a mirror or locket. Note how these frames subtly define and constrain the women, reducing them to objects of beauty and desire. The lantern, typically a symbol of guidance and illumination, here becomes a cage, containing and displaying a woman's image. These cards circulated widely, shaping perceptions of beauty and femininity. They reflect and reinforce the era’s narrow roles assigned to women. This commercial artwork serves as a poignant reminder of the complex interplay between art, advertising, and the construction of identity in a rapidly changing society.