Card Number 348, Rosa Wilson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is card number 348, Rosa Wilson, from the Actors and Actresses series, printed around the turn of the 20th century by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to advertise their cigarettes. It's a photograph, a new technology at the time, reproduced on a small paper card using industrial printing methods. The image is sepia-toned, lending it an antique feel, and features a performer in a bathing costume, posed against a painted backdrop. The card's surface is smooth, with a slight sheen. The text is bold and clear, characteristic of mass-produced advertising. These cards were essentially tools of capitalism, designed to promote consumption and brand loyalty. The images of actors and actresses added a layer of glamour to the product, suggesting that smoking Duke cigarettes was a sophisticated, fashionable choice. Labor is present in the work through the photographers, printers, and performers. What we have here is a powerful reminder that the boundaries of art, commerce, and popular culture are often blurred, and that even the humblest of objects can offer insights into the social and economic forces that shape our world.