"I'm de Boss Whistler on the block," from the Terrors of America set (N136) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1888 - 1889

Curator: Well, that's certainly a character! This little portrait just exudes mischief. Editor: Absolutely. What we’re seeing here is titled “I’m de Boss Whistler on the block,” from the "Terrors of America" set. It's an 1888-1889 print, published by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco. A small, printed advertisement essentially, residing at the Metropolitan Museum. Curator: Fascinating! You immediately understand the context of its original consumption, while I get stuck thinking of its materials. Looking closely, the colors are incredibly vibrant. The detail suggests a meticulous printmaking process—probably chromolithography. The labour intensity is in stark contrast with its disposable nature as advertisement. Editor: Indeed, tobacco cards such as this offer a revealing window into the late 19th century. Duke's mass-produced images both reflected and shaped societal values and consumerism. They also reveal attitudes of the time—in this case potentially exploitative. Look how this street urchin is being positioned. Curator: It makes you think about the working conditions inherent in the making of it. This wasn't just Duke but a whole machinery that produced it. Everything, from sourcing pigments to the workers that printed it. Even the paper would have played its part. Editor: The use of "Terrors of America" also makes me think, like is he a 'terror'? Was he perceived as one by upper-class people? These were images consumed within specific socio-political spaces. They spoke to, and were interpreted differently, within varying classes. Curator: What remains is the resilience of that kid, right? Despite it all, it speaks volumes. Editor: Absolutely. And it offers a great insight on how things are produced, consumed, perceived within society as well as a wider historic setting.