Strange photo

Scuba, I didn't notice the image was cropped on the tobacco label. I would assume that means the image probably did not originate as label art.

The figure you are seeing in the background is a statute of Athena who is described as "...the Greek and Roman god of wisdom, warfare, meaning, purity, and humanity"... Its no mistake she was the backdrop for an image of a woman locking Cupid up.

https://redmythology.wikispaces.com/Athena-Minerva
 

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Thanks squirrel maybe it's a photogravure
 

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Thanks squirrel maybe it's a photogravure

Yes absolutely. Sorry I misunderstood. I didn't mean to imply it was an original work.
 

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It says it's a lithograph by hatich litho co in New York city around 1860 captive cupid.
 

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Wonder who is the artist for this
 

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The woman is not ready for love so she is holding Cupid back and he has dropped his bow making it unlikely the woman will fall in love any time soon.
 

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I agree that is cupid hovering behind the door, and the bow and torch represent war...the choice is love or war...Either this...or that is the longest legged brat alive and he has locked his mom outta' the house for taking away his toy bow and torch.
 

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I think that is a quiver of arrows not a torch
 

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While I was thinking about this I realized GettyImages incorrectly referred their image as being a "tobacco crate label", its actually a tobacco card. That doesn't really shed any more light on the origins of this image but I thought I would mention it.
 

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All I know is she's a naughty girl, based on her hand signals.:headbang:
 

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I don't know...
The inspiration for the lyrics from a B.B. King song?

"If the arrows from Cupid's bow that had passed through her heart had been sticking out of her body, she would look like a porcupine."
 

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GettyImages made a typo, that should be Hatch, not Hatich. If it were from 1860ish it would have been marked "Hatch & Co.", and if we're marked "Hatch Litho.Co." it would date later than the 1860's. (1887-89 according to one site)
 

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GettyImages made a typo, that should be Hatch, not Hatich. If it were from 1860ish it would have been marked "Hatch & Co.", and if we're marked "Hatch Litho.Co." it would date 1887-1889.

Your dates make more sense with it being a tobacco card also.
 

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I've been trying to nail down the date they switched the name to the Hatch Lithographic Company (and marking things Hatch Litho Co.), but it seems there's disagreement on that. So, anyway, it is worth researching using both if it would help lead to the artist.
 

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On the ground is Cupid's bow and his quiver (it holds the arrows), not a torch. She has cupid locked away. Could be in reference to "Cupid's Folly", a painting by Guillaume Seignac. The girl looks to be the same as in that painting. - JHinPA
 

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Do you have the link to the painting
 

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We used to do this when I was a kid its called ghost knocking. You knock on the door then run like hell! :laughing7:
 

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Mythology, Delilah sneaking in to cut Samsons hair.
 

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