Violin and Violincello, from the Musical Instruments series (N121) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1888

Curator: From 1888, we have "Violin and Violincello, from the Musical Instruments series (N121) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco", currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: What strikes me immediately is the pastels, a sort of rosy, muted elegance. But why use such a refined style to advertise tobacco? Curator: Let’s deconstruct this further. The composition employs three distinct vignettes, two featuring elegantly dressed women, and a third presenting crossed musical instruments: a lyre and possibly some kind of horn, possibly a shawm or recorder, arranged against pale foliage ornamentation. This careful organization structures the visual narrative, directing our gaze in specific ways. Editor: But it seems such a contradiction! The instruments represent high culture, perhaps leisure among the upper classes. While the tobacco, mass-produced, is aimed at a different consumer altogether. Surely there is a tension there? Curator: Perhaps not. By associating its tobacco with the elegance of high culture, Duke Sons & Co. elevates the status of their product. The materiality of these cards matters too: produced as collectible items alongside cigarette packs, the medium transcends the humble role of an advertisement. Editor: The image, produced via chromolithography and colored pencil, evokes a softness and approachability, almost defying its nature as mass-produced promotional material. Each female portrait captures individual characteristics – poise in one, serene focus in the other – contributing layers of depth and connection beyond commercial objectives. Curator: Consider the interplay of colors; soft reds and blues highlight the curves of both ladies and the musical instruments creating a visual harmony that resonates despite its purpose. It's a meticulously structured work intended to signify elegance through a collection of strategically presented components. Editor: It really is an intersection of two distinct worlds: artistic refinement meeting industrial manufacturing, hinting at the changing landscape of both labor and leisure at the turn of the century. It's more than a commercial image, isn’t it? Curator: Precisely.