Judge — February 5, 1916 — page 28: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This appears to be a vintage cigarette advertisement for "Murad" Turkish cigarettes, priced at fifteen cents. The ad uses orientalist imagery popular in early 20th-century marketing: two women in belly-dance costume flank a central cigarette package, while a man in Western dress enjoys a cigarette between them. The phrase "Everywhere—Why?" suggests the product's widespread availability and popularity. The exotic staging—with dancing women and references to "Turkish and Egyptian" cigarettes—exploited contemporary fascination with the Orient as glamorous and sensual. This marketing strategy was common for tobacco companies of the era, associating the product with luxury, exoticism, and sophistication. The ad reflects period attitudes toward both advertising and orientalism that would be considered offensive today.