Actress wearing hat with pink feathers and ribbon, from Stars of the Stage, Fourth Series (N132) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1892 - 1893

This chromolithograph was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co., around the turn of the century to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco. The actress, framed by a pink feathered hat and ribbon, draws immediate attention through its composition and delicate colour palette. Formally, the print is an exercise in the interplay of colour and texture. The soft pinks and creams create a harmonious, almost dreamlike, visage that hints at the ephemeral nature of stardom. The choice of chromolithography, with its ability to produce nuanced gradations of colour, adds a layer of complexity to the image. The actress's hat, adorned with feathers and ribbons, serves both as a visual anchor and a semiotic marker of status and femininity. Ultimately, the print functions as a cultural artifact, reflecting the values and aspirations of its time. It shows how images circulate within consumer culture and how they shape our perceptions of beauty and fame. The actress, in this context, becomes a cipher, embodying the dreams and desires of a rapidly changing society.