Miss Mertens, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: Here we have "Miss Mertens," an 1880s print from the Actors and Actresses series, promoting Duke Cigarettes. It looks like a photograph, maybe even a drawing, and I immediately notice the contrast between the softness of her features and the rigid advertising text below. What can you tell me about its artistic merit? Curator: The interplay of textures certainly commands attention. Note the photographic quality of Miss Mertens juxtaposed with the typographical elements. Consider how the composition leverages contrast—smooth versus rough, organic versus geometric—to create a visual hierarchy. The diagonal line formed by her arms also pulls the eye upwards to her gaze, which is arguably the focal point. Editor: So it’s a kind of tension created by these opposing elements, softness and rigid text, directing our focus? Curator: Precisely. And how does the subdued monochromatic palette enhance or detract from this interplay of contrasts? Think about what impact a broader, high-definition colour range might have on its visual language. Editor: Interesting. If it were brighter, maybe the message would get lost? It makes me appreciate the considered balance here, which I hadn't fully recognized at first. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, observing the formal properties closely often reveals a more nuanced artistic intent. The surface, in this case, truly conceals a calculated depth.