Daisy Murdoch as "Cupid," from the series Fancy Dress Ball Costumes (N73) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

This chromolithograph, made around 1890 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. features Daisy Murdock dressed as "Cupid" for a series of cigarette cards. These cards, tucked into cigarette packs, offered consumers glimpses into popular culture and societal ideals, often reflecting and reinforcing the norms of beauty and femininity of the time. Murdock’s portrayal as Cupid, the god of love, intersects with the historical context of the late 19th century, a period marked by rigid gender roles and expectations. This image perpetuates the ideal of women as emblems of beauty and romance. Yet, within its confection of hearts and arrows, there lies a negotiation of power. Murdock, through her confident gaze, seems to subtly challenge the passive role typically assigned to women in such depictions. It is a reminder of how even seemingly innocent commercial art can reveal the complex interplay between identity, representation, and societal values. It asks us to consider the gaze, the power, and the unspoken narratives embedded within such seemingly simple images.