Steamship Taurus, Iron Steamboat Company, from the Ocean and River Steamers series (N83) for Duke brand cigarettes 1887

Curator: So, here we have an advertising trade card from 1887. It was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. for their cigarettes and part of their "Ocean and River Steamers" series. It features the "Steamship Taurus, Iron Steamboat Company." The card combines drawing, watercolor, and printmaking techniques. Editor: Well, it’s utterly charming, isn’t it? A total daydream in pastel hues! There’s something so quaint about that paddle steamer, like a toy boat in a bathtub, and the woman… she’s clearly dreaming of an escape. Curator: I find it interesting how the card highlights both leisure and industrial prowess. You’ve got the elegant portrait of the woman—an idealized consumer, certainly. But alongside, this almost technical depiction of the steamship, a symbol of modernity and commercial power, of course intertwined with labor exploitation to facilitate production and consumption for Duke. Editor: Powerfully put. Although, speaking of that woman, isn't her presence odd? Almost like two distinct postcards have been pasted together, I wonder, why such division? It’s as if our focus needs splitting and it leaves me wondering who the intended audience was, exactly? The addition of her portrait gives the trade card a really peculiar feeling. Curator: Right. Consider the materiality: These cards were cheaply produced, given away with cigarette purchases to encourage brand loyalty. So, while aesthetically pleasing, it was also disposable ephemera. This wasn’t ‘high art’ meant for galleries but commercial art circulated among the masses, reflecting the growing consumer culture of the late 19th century and targeting wide audience appeal and potentially multiple demographics. Editor: But that’s what makes it so fascinating! This little throwaway item captures so much of the period: the allure of travel, burgeoning industry, the aspirations—and contradictions—of that time, all contained in a flimsy card peddling nicotine. Curator: Indeed. Looking closely, one recognizes how the artist merged varied media for this singular piece. Editor: I’ll be picturing her off on that steamboat; the possibility this card presents of sailing into a rosy sunset for the rest of the afternoon.