Life — December 2, 1915 — page 80: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This is a Christmas-themed advertisement for Egyptian Deities cigarettes, presented as a parody of classical/Egyptian imagery. The ad features a elegantly dressed woman in flowing robes, holding a candle and displaying a cigarette package—positioning smoking as a luxurious, sophisticated activity suitable for holiday gift-giving. The "Egyptian Deities" branding suggests exoticism and premium quality ("The Utmost in Cigarettes"). The classical artistic style mimics fine portraiture, elevating cigarettes to objects of cultural refinement rather than mere consumer goods. For modern readers: this reflects early 20th-century advertising normalcy—cigarettes marketed openly, without health warnings, using aspirational imagery to appeal to affluent consumers, particularly women. The pseudo-Egyptian framing was a common marketing tactic to suggest luxury and worldliness.