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

Editor: This is "Xylophone," a print from 1888 by W. Duke, Sons & Co., part of the Musical Instruments series. It's a chromolithograph depicting a woman playing the xylophone. I'm immediately drawn to the contrast between the sharp lines of the instrument and the soft curves of the woman’s figure. What structural elements stand out to you in this piece? Curator: The chromatic arrangement is carefully constructed. Observe the complimentary balance between the woman's fair skin, rendered in soft pinks and peaches, juxtaposed with the instrument's predominantly earthen hues. Furthermore, consider how the composition is divided. The upper register foregrounds the figure, complete with dress of laced bodice, contrasted against a muted backdrop, thus intensifying the visual impact. What semiotic function do you ascribe to this juxtaposition? Editor: Well, I see the contrast emphasizing the artificiality of the scene. It's very posed, almost staged. But how does that relate to the overall structure? Curator: Precisely. It’s artifice as structuring principle. Consider the horizontal emphasis created by the xylophone itself, grounded by the table. This provides a visual anchor, a base upon which the figure—a vertical element—is staged. How does this division impact your reading of the depicted reality? Is it ‘real’, or merely a representation of ‘reality’? Editor: I think it highlights that it is constructed, manufactured even – much like the cigarettes the card was advertising! I never thought about it in terms of the vertical and horizontal elements balancing each other. Curator: Indeed. And the strategic deployment of color, form, and spatial organization contributes to the piece’s aesthetic and symbolic weight, transforming the everyday into a realm of idealized, commercial representation. What do we learn? Editor: I see how analyzing just the form reveals a deeper understanding of its purpose. Thanks!