Steamship Oceanic, Occidental and Oriental Line, from the Ocean and River Steamers series (N83) for Duke brand cigarettes 1887

Editor: This is “Steamship Oceanic, Occidental and Oriental Line,” a print from 1887. It comes from a series of cigarette cards. It has an image of a woman and of a steamship on choppy waters, and I am intrigued by the combination of both landscape and portrait elements into a sort of promotional imagery. How might one interpret a piece like this within its historical context? Curator: These cigarette cards, like this one by W. Duke, Sons & Co., reveal much about late 19th-century society. Consider the target audience. Who was buying these cigarettes? The inclusion of the woman, presented almost as a figurehead, catered to certain ideals. What do you think those ideals might be, given the simultaneous depiction of modern transportation technology? Editor: Maybe the steamship embodies progress and global reach, and pairing that with a female portrait associates that progress with notions of beauty and femininity deemed desirable? It feels rather...commodified. Curator: Exactly! The card normalizes the steamship’s brand with a portrait, becoming something pleasing and collectible. Also, it speaks volumes about the public role of art at the time: ubiquitous, disposable, and highly commercial. Moreover, the title “Occidental and Oriental Line" and Ukiyo-e references subtly promoted a fascination with the "Orient" – Japonisme -- but it also glosses over the complex colonial dynamics at play. What does the British flag tell you? Editor: It underscores that colonial influence; the steamship isn't just a marvel of engineering; it’s part of a system of global power. Thinking about how images can subtly reinforce social hierarchies changes how I see these seemingly innocent promotional items. Curator: Precisely. These small artifacts are cultural carriers loaded with social and political information. Examining the image in this context helps to better comprehend it, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Absolutely. Looking beyond just the aesthetic really brings the image into a new dimension of meaning!