History of Ole Bull, from the Histories of Poor Boys and Famous People series of booklets (N79) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

Editor: So, here we have “History of Ole Bull, from the Histories of Poor Boys and Famous People series of booklets” from 1888, made by W. Duke, Sons & Co., and residing here at the Met! It's a colored pencil drawing, mass-produced as a cigarette card, which I find slightly funny. The soft focus and gentle color palette create a really dreamy, almost sentimental mood. What catches your eye, when you look at this portrait? Curator: Oh, that wistful gaze…it’s got me wondering, you know? What was Ole Bull dreaming of? Was it a particularly challenging concerto he was composing or perhaps the adoring faces of the audience? Or, given that it's on a cigarette card, maybe he was just hoping for a quick smoke break. This image isn't just a portrait, it's a story waiting to be played, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Definitely! It feels very performative, or maybe even aspirational – associating success with something as commonplace as smoking. Curator: Precisely! This card acted like a little doorway, whisking everyday smokers into a world where hard work turned into grand triumph and perhaps a shared moment with Ole Bull himself. How brilliant is that marketing, truly? By the way, I see in this rendering a kind of soft romanticism… almost a pre-Raphaelite yearning… Editor: I can see that, yes, particularly in the flowing hair and softened edges! And I agree, framing success within an everyday item definitely feels like ingenious marketing. Curator: Mmm, clever, really. We buy a little momentary pleasure—the cigarette—while also buying into a much bigger dream. I love discovering those hidden currents flowing just beneath the surface of everyday things. Don't you think this card does just that? Editor: Absolutely! It's a tiny window into a specific moment in time and culture, blending celebrity, consumerism, and artistry, all on one little card. So much to unpack!