Accordion, from the Musical Instruments series (N82) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

W. Duke, Sons & Co. produced this chromolithograph trade card, "Accordion," around the turn of the 20th century, as part of a series promoting Duke brand cigarettes. The composition presents a woman in profile, seated and playing an accordion. The artist has paid close attention to the texture and color of the woman’s dress, contrasting the smoothness of her pearl necklace with the complex folds of fabric. This juxtaposition draws the eye both to her refined elegance and to the instrument itself. The accordion is rendered with detailed precision, its geometric form and linear structure standing out against the soft, diffused background. Trade cards like these functioned as early forms of advertising. Their aesthetic appeal was intended to associate the product with cultural refinement and leisure. The inclusion of the accordion, a popular instrument, underscores this appeal to a broad audience. Notice the textual claim at the bottom, that W. Duke, Sons & Co. are 'The Largest Cigarette Manufacturers in the World.' Consider the semiotic interplay here: how the image of musicality serves to mask the material reality and the health implications of the product being advertised. This card becomes a site where art, commerce, and cultural values intersect, inviting ongoing scrutiny.