Card Number 61, Rughan, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Curator: Here we have "Card Number 61, Rughan," an 1880s cigarette card from the Actors and Actresses series, published by W. Duke, Sons & Co. Editor: The sepia tones give it a dreamlike quality. The actress looks almost ethereal, yet the blunt “Cross Cut Cigarettes” scrawled above her head jolts you back to its commercial purpose. Curator: Absolutely. Let’s examine the composition. The soft lighting accentuates her features and the details of her ruffled dress. There's a deliberate contrast between the detailed portrait and the plain background, typical for these promotional cards. Editor: It’s also interesting to consider how these cards contributed to the celebrity culture of the time. Actresses like Rughan gained visibility, but also were commodified as tools for selling tobacco, an industry heavily linked to exploitative labor practices. What was her agency here? Curator: That tension is apparent, isn’t it? Semiotically, the image presents a constructed image of feminine allure directly linked to a brand, blurring the lines between personal identity and corporate advertising. The materiality of this—a simple print—belies its power. Editor: Right, and by situating it in its time, we understand this photograph serves as both a promotional piece and a snapshot of the socio-economic dynamics during a time where tobacco industries are at the height of cultural and political influence. Curator: Precisely. By looking at the structure of the image we appreciate its purpose. It invites contemplation about commodification and the construction of celebrity itself. Editor: Indeed, examining the image—not just as a portrait, but as a cultural object—gives us access to social questions and hidden dynamics. Curator: It also is so aesthetically striking even now. There is much in this simple portrait card, that makes it an artwork worth of exploration and preservation. Editor: Very well said. It gives you a lot to think about even as it tries to simply grab your attention.