Card Number 523, Fanny Moor, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This card, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co., is from a series of promotional cards for Duke Cigarettes. The composition centers on the figure of Fanny Moor, an actress, posed with an umbrella, set against a faux backdrop. The sepia tones lend a nostalgic aura, yet it is the interplay between foreground and background that commands attention. Note how the portrait is staged, with Moor’s attire and props carefully arranged to convey an image of refinement. This constructed reality challenges our understanding of representation. The card, mass-produced and distributed with cigarettes, functions both as advertising and as a cultural artifact. Observe the framing of Moor, her figure serving as a signifier within a larger system of consumer culture. The card reflects the burgeoning advertising industry and the commodification of celebrity. It serves not just to promote cigarettes but also to shape perceptions of identity and aspiration.