Dixey in the Costume of a French Gentleman of 1808, from the set Actors and Actresses, First Series (N70) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888 - 1889

This chromolithograph of ‘Dixey in the Costume of a French Gentleman of 1808’ was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of the Actors and Actresses series for Duke brand cigarettes. The figure, cropped tightly and set against a hazy background, dominates the small rectangular space. The most striking aspect is the geometric interplay of shapes and colors, with the stark, angular hat contrasting against the soft, almost pastel-like rendering of the face and jacket. The artist has employed color not for realism, but to create a symbolic language. The blue jacket, for instance, is not merely a garment; it is a signifier of status, of the French aristocracy during the Napoleonic era. This card, mass-produced for commercial purposes, opens questions about the nature of representation and the commodification of identity. It invites us to consider how visual culture operates to reinforce or subvert existing social structures.