W.J. Florence Dressed as Modern Persian Dignitary, from the set Actors and Actresses, Second Series (N71) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888 - 1890

This small chromolithograph was made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the late 19th century as part of a series of collectible cards included in their cigarette packs. It depicts the American actor W.J. Florence in costume, playing a "modern Persian dignitary." The card operates within a broader context of American fascination with, and often misrepresentation of, non-Western cultures. We can ask: what was the public role of art, specifically commercial art, at this time? What are the politics of representing "the Orient" in this way? It's also interesting that the image exists as a promotional tool for selling tobacco products. Understanding this image requires a look into the socio-economic conditions of the time, including the rise of consumer culture and the ways in which the exotic "other" was used to market products. The meaning of art is always contingent on social and institutional contexts. Historical research is crucial to understand it better.