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

This colorful chromolithograph, part of the “Musical Instruments” series for Duke brand cigarettes, depicts a woman playing a hurdy-gurdy. The image is a prime example of the trade cards popular in the late 19th century, a form of advertising which featured images of everyday life and popular culture, in this case, a musical instrument. The artist, W. Duke, Sons & Co., used the card to promote their cigarettes as a product of quality and sophistication, appealing to a wide audience. This card is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection in New York City.