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

Curator: Oh, this piece just vibrates with the energy of the streets. There's something almost feverish about it. Editor: Well, you’ve nailed it! This is “Extra! Extra!!,” a chromolithograph issued around 1888 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. It was meant to be included in a series called "Terrors of America," intended to promote their Honest Long Cut Tobacco. Curator: Tobacco promotion, huh? Makes sense. The colors, that breathless rush—it’s trying to hook you, like a sugar rush. But tell me, what terror is being alluded to, beyond the relentless hawking? Editor: Ah, now that's where it gets interesting. It plays on anxieties about public knowledge and, more broadly, how information spreads in society. You know, the press has always been feared. Curator: Exactly! I feel that feverish frenzy. You know, there’s a real kinetic buzz seeing that young newsboy. It reminds me of being a kid myself, feeling like everything urgent was right around the corner. Did you ever hawk newspapers? Editor: Sadly, no, my friend. The design uses these bright colours, like the reds in the flowers. These draw your eye to the centre, mimicking how headlines might snag our attention and make us stop and spend our money. The figure is presented in a snapshot style. The lack of fine detail and clear features, as well as the use of impressionistic elements, makes him relatable to everyone. Curator: Right, everyone knows that kid. What I think is neat is that the picture frame that surrounds him, a frame which includes gaudy sunflowers, also serves as a mental "frame." The effect, intentional or not, invites people to imagine whatever sensations might flow between them as purveyors of news and its willing, wanting public. Editor: I concur. This unassuming little collectible really encapsulates so much of its moment, in a fleeting, affordable way. Curator: Yes, an incredible object. Editor: Thank you.