Miss Fortesque, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: So, here we have a promotional print from the 1880s, “Miss Fortesque,” made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of their Actors and Actresses series. The photographic image is rather charming with the collie dog! What kind of cultural echoes do you hear when you look at this? Curator: Oh, deeply resonant echoes. Images like this are mnemonic devices, keys unlocking specific memories and broader cultural understandings. Notice the Scottish plaid. Does it signal heritage, romanticism, or perhaps a deliberate marketing choice appealing to a certain aspirational class? What stories was Duke trying to evoke? Editor: That’s interesting. I hadn’t thought of the Scottish association. Does the inclusion of the dog signify anything beyond a standard prop? Curator: Consider the enduring symbolic partnership of humans and animals, loyalty and status conveyed. The dog echoes sentiments of companionship, trust, maybe even aristocratic leisure. Animals appear across many advertising and historical media. Are animals deployed for authenticity, relatability, or sales? What continuities do you see over time? Editor: That makes me rethink how “natural” this image really is. So, images build on existing narratives. Curator: Exactly. Each element—plaid, dog, even Miss Fortesque’s gaze—is a signifier participating in an ongoing visual conversation. Deciphering them is key to unlocking cultural memory. Editor: This has given me a lot to consider about the messages within seemingly simple images. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. These "small" images show us how to uncover long-held beliefs through visual cues.