The Drama is Making Long Strides / O'er an Oar, from the Jokes series (N118) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1890 - 1893

Curator: This colourful print, currently held here at the Met, comes to us from the late 19th century, around 1890 to 1893, as part of a series of promotional materials from W. Duke, Sons & Co. The rather verbose title reads "The Drama is Making Long Strides / O'er an Oar", and it's clear that the intention was to use humor to draw eyes to their "Honest Long Cut Tobacco." Editor: "The Drama is Making Long Strides"—what a hoot! It feels like a bizarre circus poster. So disjointed, almost nonsensical... but something about that slightly-off composition draws me in. There is an energy I wasn't expecting. Curator: These cards existed within a cultural context saturated with industrialization and evolving ideas about labour and leisure, which is reflected quite literally by the industrialisation presented with an adjacent scene of leisure activities, though it's an uneasy blend of caricature and genre painting typical of its era, aimed at a broad audience, reflecting aspirations of both economic mobility and classic hobbies. Editor: Totally. I’m stuck on this almost manic energy though, I can’t figure if I want it on my wall to laugh at, or if the images reflect some inner world the characters can't contain and is projected wildly around them? The mix of styles—a bit Art Nouveau flourish, some Impressionistic colour, and definite caricature— it's like a dream someone is frantically trying to recall as they wake up, yet has a life of it's own... Curator: I think you've nailed the essence. It serves both commercial needs and offers insights into the attitudes of the day, that is a chaotic energy when faced with modern production of goods and it's impact. What this piece adds is also questions of humour, and where that is present as some form of release, it gives light into cultural perceptions. Editor: Right, it is interesting now we know that, to have it sit on your wall to challenge how much we see it or understand it. Well, it makes me think differently now. Curator: Absolutely, viewing it this way enhances how much can be taken from commercial images that once distributed by trading. Editor: Okay! Ready to visit some serious Renaissance pieces now!