Card Number 702, Ada Webb, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes

This card, dating from the late 19th century, was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as a promotional item for Cross Cut Cigarettes, and features actress Ada Webb. The material is paper, of course, with a printed photographic image. But think about the context. This wasn’t simply a matter of artistic expression; it was a commercial enterprise, part of a massive effort to market cigarettes to a broad public. The photographic process itself had become industrialized, allowing for mass production of images. Consider the labor involved: from the photographers and printers to the factory workers churning out cigarettes, all contributing to a system of consumption. The image, the paper, the ink, all were brought together for one purpose: to sell a product. In the end, this little card encapsulates a significant moment in the history of mass production and consumer culture. It reminds us to look closely at the material conditions that underpin our aesthetic experiences.