Charles I, King of Württemberg, from the Rulers, Flags, and Coats of Arms series (N126-2) issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. 1888

Curator: Here we have a piece from 1888, "Charles I, King of Würtemberg," part of the "Rulers, Flags, and Coats of Arms" series by W. Duke, Sons & Co. It’s a coloured-pencil print—a curious intersection of commercial and decorative art. Editor: First impression? That is surprisingly intense, almost aggressive for something so small and decorative. It feels like power condensed, a tiny explosion of heraldic imagery. Curator: Precisely. Let’s consider the composition. The heraldic crest, rendered with an almost obsessive level of detail for something designed to sell cigarettes, commands the eye. Note the bilateral symmetry, anchoring the design—lion and stag flanking the central shield. Editor: It’s funny, those creatures look so angry. The lion, the stag... both poised, ready to pounce or run. It's more "Game of Thrones" than "cigarette break," wouldn’t you agree? The decorative scrollwork frames that aggression. It’s trying to domesticate the raw power. Curator: A fascinating tension. The limited color palette—predominantly reds, greens, and golds—contributes to the overall impact. Note how those saturated tones draw your attention, even from across a room, creating an image with depth, in the limited area, despite the flattened space and limited modelling. Editor: And then there's the text. "Furchtlos und treu"—fearless and loyal—emblazoned across the scroll. It really does amplify that sense of grim determination. Plus, that little cross! All that moral virtue crammed into a single cigarette card. I can't help but wonder what Charles I of Würtemberg himself would've thought! Curator: I think he would appreciate its attempt to translate power into symbol. Editor: Absolutely. So much concentrated identity within the design. It’s interesting that something intended to sell cigarettes became a tiny piece of history. Curator: And a demonstration of enduring visual rhetoric, of course.