Card Number 162, Lillian Elmore, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is "Card Number 162, Lillian Elmore," one of a series of promotional cards made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. for Cross Cut Cigarettes in the late 19th century. These cards, collected by consumers, offer a glimpse into the cultural values of the time. Here, we see Lillian Elmore, an actress, posed in what was considered alluring attire for the period. The image straddles the line between public persona and private sexuality. These cards were instrumental in shaping perceptions of beauty and femininity. They celebrated an ideal which was overwhelmingly white, thin, and able-bodied, while simultaneously promoting the harmful practice of smoking. This image, distributed widely, helped to normalize both the consumption of tobacco and a narrow view of female beauty. The actress’s confident gaze invites us into a world of fantasy and desire, but also hints at the complex negotiations women undertook to gain visibility and agency within the constraints of their time.