Card Number 73, Pounds and Ulmer, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This small, sepia-toned card was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes, and presents the actors Pounds and Ulmer in costume. The theatrical garb is a curious blend. Pounds is dressed in what appears to be a classical Roman or Greek style, while Ulmer is in a Japanese-style kimono, each holding a fan. The fan, an ancient symbol of status and power, transcends cultures. In ancient Egypt, fans were associated with royalty. Across Asia, fans were not only practical but also potent symbols of authority, as well as tools for flirtation. Here, each actor holds a fan, yet the items differ considerably. Note the contrasts: the classical garb against the kimono, and the Western actor embodying a Greco-Roman figure, juxtaposed with the Western actress in Japanese dress. These choices reveal a fascination with, and perhaps a misunderstanding of, cultural symbols. These popular images, designed for mass consumption, reflect a desire for exoticism, filtered through the lens of commercial appeal. These symbols persist, revealing our ongoing quest to find meaning in representations of ourselves and others.