Sutherland, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: Here we have "Sutherland, from the Actors and Actresses series" printed in the 1880s by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as a promotional card for Cross Cut Cigarettes. It looks like a photograph of a drawing. It has a strange monochromatic color and odd sense of proportion. How might one approach its formal qualities? Curator: Let us examine the arrangement of elements within the frame. Notice how the figure dominates the pictorial space. The light source, though unclear, sculpts the figure, creating pockets of contrast that define the costume. The textures in her outfit create multiple focal points, competing for the viewer’s eye. Do you see a tension between the flatness of the background and the attempt at three-dimensionality in the figure? Editor: I do see that tension. The ornate chair contrasts against what seems to be an empty background space in the top left corner. The figure is lit so there is both clarity in her torso and legs but also dark details such as within the texture of her dress. Curator: Precisely. It appears to be a strategic use of visual contrast that seeks to emphasize the actress and allure. Editor: I can see that, the details create a sense of intrigue, even if some aspects of the image are simplified. So even something like a cigarette card is trying to create an engagement by pushing and pulling in its composition. Curator: Correct. Even ephemera operates within visual relationships. Close examination shows this artwork is more than just its subject and history. By looking at these relationships, we can discuss intent and draw further interpretations about visual strategies, and overall effects that artists throughout different media use. Editor: Well, thank you. That makes it clearer to think about its overall organization as contributing to its purpose and potential interpretations.