More Than One Way, from the Snapshots from "Puck" series (N128) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1888

Curator: This is a chromolithograph entitled "More Than One Way," created in 1888. It’s from the series “Snapshots from Puck,” issued by W. Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco, now residing at The Met. Editor: What strikes me immediately is the sheer audacity! That man, holding what looks like a club, confronting the tennis player—it’s a stark visual contrast. Curator: Absolutely. The image comes from *Puck*, a satirical magazine. These cards served as advertisements, highlighting social commentary through humorous situations. You've got a class clash happening, presented in a lighthearted manner. The 'common man' versus the upper class. Editor: And look at the symbolism—the cudgel against the racquet. Power versus leisure. The composition, positioning them both on the same narrow walkway, heightens the tension. It echoes the social strife of the time. One wonders about its relationship to ideas circulating after the Civil War... Curator: Interesting point. We're looking at late 19th century America, an era of rapid industrialization and growing social divisions. "Puck" often targeted the wealthy and the emerging middle class through satire. The contrast between them, here, reveals rising anxieties. Editor: It's about disruption. These cards often used visual gags as symbols to convey broader cultural issues that affected identity and public memory in that time. We see these caricatures of the classes still in existence in current media... perhaps we don't realize that it's just a restaging of these conflicts. Curator: And, of course, it subtly promoted tobacco. Cigarette cards used to serve a lot of social purposes and as promotional items also served as cultural barometers... It highlights how cultural narratives were used by major corporations to advance consumption. It's fascinating to analyze through the lens of modern advertising techniques. Editor: Reflecting on this image, it's clear it's more than just a humorous scene; it's a snapshot of societal power dynamics played out on a miniature scale. Curator: Agreed, the chromolithograph really captured, through vibrant color and striking visuals, a pivotal time when cultural values were colliding.