Mlle. Danville, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This card featuring Mlle. Danville, from the Actors and Actresses series, was issued by Duke Sons & Co. around the turn of the 20th century to promote Duke Cigarettes. These cards were made through industrial printing processes, churning out images on a mass scale. The sepia tone suggests a photomechanical process, likely a combination of photography and lithography, where an image is transferred onto a printing plate to produce numerous copies. The card’s small size and thin paper stock speak to its function: a disposable promotional item tucked into cigarette packs. Consider the social context: the burgeoning tobacco industry using popular figures to entice consumers. These cards were essentially advertisements, blurring the lines between art, commerce, and celebrity culture. The labor involved in producing them – from the photographers to the factory workers operating the printing presses – highlights the intersection of art and industrial production. Looking at this card, we are reminded that even the most seemingly insignificant objects can reveal much about the economic and social forces at play.