Created on 2024-11-13

The image is a black and white illustration that humorously anthropomorphizes a duck, dressing it in human clothes and posing it in a portrait-like manner. The duck stands upright, wearing a long-sleeved dress with a checkered pattern, a bow at the neck, and what appears to be a hat tied to its waist by a ribbon. It holds a flower in its right wing (which resembles a human hand here), and there’s a picture on a wall behind it that shows another duck in a similar humorous fashion. In the background, there's a curtain drawn to one side, revealing a window view of trees and a decorative urn or pot. Below the image, text reads "WHAT A DUCK OF A CARTE DE VISITE." "Carte de visite" were a type of small photograph which were commonly traded among friends and visitors in the mid-19th century, and the phrase "What a duck of a..." is a play on words, indicating something is very characteristic or a fine example of its kind. In this case, it's a pun, merging the format of the carte de visite with the duck subject of the illustration. Additionally, the text at the bottom of the image states "ROCK & Co. LONDON" which likely indicates the publisher or creator of the illustration and "N.2" which might suggest this is part of a series.

Created on 2024-11-14

The image depicts a fantastical, whimsical scene featuring a white duck dressed in an elaborate costume. The duck appears to be standing on a pedestal or platform, surrounded by a decorative background with curtains, foliage, and other ornate elements. The duck is shown in a formal pose, as if it were presenting itself as part of a decorative "carte de visite" or visiting card. The overall style and composition of the image suggest an artistic, imaginative, and surreal interpretation of a domestic bird.