Mlle. Simond, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This small card featuring Mlle. Simond was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the 20th century as part of a series of promotional items included with Duke Cigarettes. These cards, which featured actors and actresses, reveal much about the cultural values of the time, particularly regarding gender and performance. Mlle. Simond, like other actresses featured in these series, was a public figure whose identity was both celebrated and commodified. Her image, carefully constructed for the stage, was reproduced and distributed, turning her into a collectible object. The popularity of these cards speaks to the growing celebrity culture and the way images of women were used to sell products, reflecting a complex interplay of admiration, consumerism, and the evolving role of women in public life. The deliberate staging of her image offers insight into the representation of women at this time, navigating the fine line between private identity and public persona.