"The Figure Eight," from the Terrors of America set (N136) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1888 - 1889

"The Figure Eight" is from the Terrors of America set issued by Duke Sons & Co. around the turn of the 20th century to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco. At a time of rapid industrialization, urbanization, and immigration, anxieties about the changing American landscape were projected onto images circulated in popular culture. This card, like others in the series, uses a mix of humor and exaggeration. The young, fair-skinned boy in modest clothing, earnestly gliding across the ice, suggests an element of sentimental nostalgia. Yet the title, "The Figure Eight," implies a threat, humorously linking the innocence of childhood with the potential for chaos or disruption. Such commercial images offer a window into the complex dynamics of identity and representation at the time. They reflect prevailing social norms and power structures while also revealing subtle tensions and contradictions. What feelings does this image evoke in you?