Madame Decca, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

Curator: Here we have an albumen print produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. sometime in the 1880s. It’s from their “Actors and Actresses” series, a promotional item included with Duke Cigarettes. This one features a woman named Madame Decca. Editor: My first impression is of an intimate and carefully posed study in sepia tones. The profile view really lends itself to an air of considered grace. The woman has an admirable gaze and stands out due to the finery around her collar. Curator: The fact that it was a promotional item is key. These cards functioned as a means of circulating images of celebrities—primarily white celebrities—further solidifying their status while normalizing certain ideals of beauty and success within the expanding marketplace. It is telling how intertwined commercial and cultural forces have been. Editor: Absolutely. Looking at the detail, it’s fascinating how her garment almost becomes another layer of symbolism, especially that ornate, almost fortress-like collar. It speaks to the role women played on stages at the time. Curator: It definitely suggests something performative. This image, circulated en masse, helped construct not only her persona but also the idea of the actress, shaping societal expectations. I'm thinking about the accessibility it provided, putting theatrical celebrities within reach of anyone with a cigarette pack. Editor: Consider the repetition of circular and floral patterns in her collar and the folds of her clothing. Do these link to notions of performance and womanhood prevalent at the time? The flower imagery certainly alludes to a connection with fertility and abundance in many visual cultures. It is a very loaded statement overall. Curator: Precisely! And understanding this piece within the broader context of labor and leisure at the time offers a fascinating glimpse into the construction of fame, identity, and the role of visual culture in shaping social hierarchies. Editor: A truly captivating piece, laying bare, through her very image, the entangled complexities of commerce and representation. Curator: Yes, a single cigarette card that illuminates so much about the cultural landscape of the late 19th century.