Ace of Clubs (black), from the Playing Cards series (N84) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

"Ace of Clubs (black)" is a promotional playing card, part of a series by W. Duke, Sons & Co., a major tobacco manufacturer in the late 19th century. These cards, included in cigarette packs, were designed to stiffen the packaging, but also to entice consumers, much like baseball cards. What interests me most is how these cards operated within a culture steeped in both leisure and commerce, subtly reinforcing social hierarchies. Playing cards, traditionally associated with gambling and entertainment, here become tools of brand loyalty. The Ace of Clubs, a symbol of potential and risk, is reduced to a mere marketing ploy. This commodification speaks volumes about the era's evolving relationship with consumerism, where even our pastimes are packaged and sold. What does it mean to find a cultural artifact like this in a fine art museum like the Met? The card embodies an emotional ambivalence, a mix of pleasure and manipulation, reflecting a society grappling with its own desires and dependencies.