Card Number 168, Lilian Grubb, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 168, Lilian Grubb, produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. sometime between 1870 and 1920 to promote Cameo Cigarettes. The sepia tone image presents a portrait of the actress Lilian Grubb. Let's consider the formal arrangement of the composition. The actress is positioned centrally, her gaze directed slightly off to the side, creating a sense of depth within the shallow picture plane. The subdued tonal range emphasizes texture, from the soft rendering of her hair to the delicate fabric of her dress. Note how the artist manipulates light and shadow to define form, particularly around her face and hands, drawing our attention to the performative aspects of her identity as an actress. The structural clarity, combined with subtle manipulation of light, functions as a sign, encoding cultural values of beauty and celebrity within a burgeoning commercial landscape. It acknowledges the semiotic interplay between image, identity, and consumer culture. These visual elements communicate ideas about the commodification of fame and the emerging power of visual representation in shaping public perception.