Hunting Horn, from the Musical Instruments series (N82) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888

"Hunting Horn, from the Musical Instruments series," was produced as a chromolithograph trade card by W. Duke, Sons & Co. The composition is dominated by a central figure of a woman in a green and brown hunting outfit, symmetrically framed within the card's rectangular format. Her posture is erect, her gaze directed to the left, creating a sense of poised anticipation. The color palette is muted, with a range of earthy greens and browns contrasted by highlights of red and gold on the trim. The woman holds a hunting horn to her lips, its shape echoing the curve of her cheek. A bow and quiver are behind her, underscoring the theme of the hunt. The artist employs a semiotic language that invites an interrogation of cultural codes and gender roles. The woman dressed in hunting gear destabilizes conventional gender associations. This challenges the viewer to interpret the interplay between traditional symbols and emergent identities. This trade card operates within a network of visual and cultural signs that reflect the complexities of its time.