The Pink Smoker

Glamorous women have long been used to advertise products, this is most likely something which will never change. Yet what is interesting is the products that they sell; they reveal evolving cultural norms and consumer tastes. Here is an advert for Du Maurier cigarettes, which I have embroidered. The two main aspects of this piece, the stitching and the image of the woman, are not particularly striking in themselves, they are just there for visual pleasure. But our gaze is drawn to the red box of cigarettes, a product which stands out for our modern eyes as we are no longer encouraged to buy them. There is a contrast between the tasteful visual elements, and the unsavoury message of the image; which creates a sense of unease and, perhaps, makes this woman seem a little less glamorous.