Card Number 241, Miss Williams, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

Curator: Oh, she’s lovely! There’s a sepia-toned romance to this little card that just feels so evocative of the era. The slightly faded colours give it an incredibly dreamy quality. Editor: Absolutely. This is "Card Number 241, Miss Williams," one in a series of portraits of actors and actresses produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the 1880s to promote their Duke Cigarettes. Think of it—a tiny, mass-produced portrait slipped into packs of smokes! Curator: It's brilliant! A flirtatious little gem nestled amongst tobacco. So small and yet she absolutely commands attention. Those mischievous eyes practically dance off the card! She looks like she knows a secret or two. Editor: Well, it's an interesting intersection of entertainment, consumption, and advertising. These cards reflect the growing popularity of theatre and celebrity culture, but also the increasing normalization of cigarette smoking. These portraits weren't simply innocent pictures. They served the purpose of normalizing images of women in consumer culture and using their appeal to push product. Curator: But still... even with its original commercial agenda, it’s so pretty! I see so much subtle storytelling in her pose, the fabric of that floral curtain, the ornate trim of her garment. There’s an underlying drama and I find that touching. What did it feel like, as a female actor during those times? Editor: I see it. The costuming and carefully staged pose also make me wonder about the performativity of identity. The image hints at both the promise and constraints placed upon women within the rapidly changing urban environment. She’s smiling, but you wonder what pressures or compromises she had to embrace. It gives us a glimpse into some anxieties during this era. Curator: Absolutely. A potent cocktail of dreams, artifice, and hidden stories, wouldn't you agree? I could gaze at that tiny confection for hours and get lost in what it means. Editor: Yes, those portraits—like fossils caught in time. Little keys into broader social phenomena, packaged with cigarettes, consumed, then often forgotten… except here it is! Still here.