Jack of Diamonds, from the Playing Cards series (N84) to promote Turkish Cross-Cut Cigarettes for W. Duke, Sons and Co. 1888

This is a promotional playing card for Turkish Cross-Cut Cigarettes made by W. Duke, Sons and Co. At its heart, observe the Jack of Diamonds, a figure laden with symbols. The diamond, a shape suggestive of value and status, here promotes luxury in the form of tobacco. The diamond symbol, like a compass, orientates desires towards wealth. Figures from playing cards resurface through time. The Jack, or Knave, often a symbol of youth and cunning. The curious symmetry of the card, a figure mirrored, reflects the idea of duality and hidden depths. Like the Roman god Janus, the symbol invites us to consider not just what is visible, but also what lies hidden. The repetitive nature creates a hypnotic effect, drawing you in. What unconscious desires does the shape of the card, and the figure upon it, ignite? How do these symbols tap into our deep-seated desires for fortune? The image echoes through time, resurfacing and evolving in different contexts, each bearing the weight of history and human emotion.