Card Number 329, Belle Urquehardt, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 329, a promotional item from Duke Sons & Co. for Cross Cut Cigarettes. The sepia tone, inherent to the photographic printing process of the time, creates a unifying visual field. The composition is dominated by the figure of Belle Urquehardt, an actress, presented in a staged tableau. The structural arrangement emphasizes a tension between artifice and nature. Urquehardt’s corseted form and elaborate attire contrast with the naturalism implied by the dove perched on her finger. This juxtaposition extends to the setting: a classically inspired backdrop clashes with what appears to be a more casual arrangement of fabric and objects at her feet. The use of light and shadow models the figure, accentuating the curves of her body and drawing attention to her poised gesture. The overall effect is one of carefully constructed image that operates within the semiotic codes of beauty, performance, and commodity, inviting us to consider how such representations mediate cultural values.