Trade card promoting varnish manufacturer Clarence Brooks and Co. and depicting a racist, genre scene of an African American man and woman during a winter promenade in the snowy countryside based on Sol Eytinge's "Lover's Quarrel-Now, Blanche, Don't" originally published in Harper’s Weekly in 1879. In the left, a man stands with his arms stretched down, palms out, and his eyes pointed to a woman to the right. He says "now, Blanche, don't!" The woman, her back turned to the man, walks away. The man is attired in knee-length black boots; yellow pants; a rumpled, green coat; blue scarf; top hat; and gloves. The woman is attired in black boots; a blue dress with a straight skirt and pink sash that billows behind her waist; white fur vest; and a short-brimmed, black hat with white fur trim and a feather. She holds a white fur muff in one hand and lifts the bottom of her dress up in the other. In the distant background is a house and trees. Clarence Brooks established his varnish business in 1859 as Brooks and Fitzgerald, later Clarence Brooks & Co. In 1881, the firm issued a calendar illustrated with African American caricatures in genre scenes., Title from item., Place of publication deduced from place of operation of advertised business., Date deduced from history of the advertised business and visual content., Gift of David Doret.
Date
[ca. 1880]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Goldman Trade Card Collection - Clarence [P.2017.95.27]
