Card Number 593, Mary Anderson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 593, Mary Anderson, was made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. During the late 19th century, trade cards like these became wildly popular. They offer us a glimpse into the era's aspirations and anxieties, particularly around representations of women. Mary Anderson was a famous American actress, celebrated for her beauty and talent. Yet, here, her image is reduced to a marketing tool, commodifying her persona to sell cigarettes. There's a tension in seeing Anderson, an independent woman who achieved fame on her own terms, being used to reinforce patriarchal structures through advertising. These cards often presented women as objects of desire, reinforcing traditional gender roles. What do we make of the emotional complexities of fame, success and the male gaze which sought to define them? This card reminds us of how deeply ingrained these issues are in our cultural fabric, and how important it is to critically examine the images that surround us.