Corinne as "The Bugler," from the series Fancy Dress Ball Costumes (N73) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

Editor: Here we have “Corinne as "The Bugler," from the series Fancy Dress Ball Costumes,” created around 1889 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. It's a small print, originally a cigarette card, I think. What strikes me is how it captures this…dreamlike theatrical quality in something so small. What do you make of it? Curator: It's darling, isn't it? To me, these cards are like little portals into the past. The artist used coloured pencil – imagine the skill to render such detail on this tiny scale! What I find particularly intriguing is the performative aspect, Corinne *as* "The Bugler." It's about representation, a little fiction within a fact, you see? Who was Corinne, I wonder, and what was she like off-stage? Editor: So, you are curious about the person, the performer? It seems you want to find out who Corinne was? What does that contribute to understanding the work? Curator: Absolutely! The late 19th century loved these miniature portraits, a craze for collecting famous faces, and for showing society, life, theater, and fashion. Thinking about these small collectables opens up a window to the society, like a historical influencer marketing, each card a piece of social currency. So Corinne *is* part of this fabric: popular portraiture feeding into societal ambition. Does that make sense? Editor: That definitely adds another layer! I hadn’t thought about it in terms of societal values; makes one rethink what we are seeing, no longer simply an illustration! Curator: Precisely! It transforms a simple image into a complex mirror reflecting an entire era, don't you think? It seems miniatures sometimes speak loudest!