Dutch skate cocoa. Erven Caspar Flick 1897

This advertisement for Dutch Skate Cocoa by Johann Georg van Caspel presents a fascinating interplay of social class and cultural identity. The central motif is the offering of cocoa, a symbol of hospitality and warmth. We see a lady of leisure enjoying cocoa served by a woman in traditional Dutch attire, evoking a sense of nostalgia and authenticity. This invokes powerful feelings of familiarity and trust with the brand. Consider the visual echo of the offering ritual in religious iconography. The cup, reminiscent of a chalice, elevates the simple act of drinking cocoa to a sacred, comforting experience. Cocoa itself, once a luxury now democratized, becomes a symbol of shared pleasure. This advertisement, like many images, taps into our collective memory, linking the present consumption with a romanticized past, a potent brew of commerce and culture.