William C. Whitney of New York, from the Presidential Possibilities series (N124) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1888

This is a chromolithograph of William C. Whitney made in the United States by W. Duke, Sons & Co. Published as one of a series of cards promoting ‘Honest Long Cut Tobacco’, the image offers an insight into the links between commerce, politics, and the popular imagination in late nineteenth-century America. Note the title, ‘Presidential Possibilities.’ Whitney, a prominent lawyer and politician, is presented here as a potential future leader. The commercial logic of the image is clear, but it also speaks to wider social and cultural dynamics. What does it tell us about the relationship between wealth, power, and celebrity in this period? Consider how the image flatters Whitney through his careful dress, grooming, and confident pose. Here, his image becomes a signifier of both personal success and political potential. Historians might look to sources such as newspapers, political pamphlets, and company records to better understand this work. The image reminds us that art is always embedded in a particular set of social relations.