Card Number 1, Fanny Rice, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This small card was made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the 20th century using photo-lithography, a mechanized printmaking technique. This process allowed the mass production of these cards, and in turn, enabled the mass marketing of consumer goods like Cross Cut Cigarettes. The sepia tone results from the printing process, with ink applied to the thin paper in layers. The texture is smooth, and uniform, lacking the tactile qualities of a handmade print. The image itself presents Fanny Rice, an actress, posing with doves, and is designed to be alluring, and memorable. What's fascinating here is the link between the entertainment industry, and consumer capitalism. The card is not just an image, but a token of exchange, part of a larger system of advertising and consumption. It reflects a shift in how images were created, and circulated, moving away from artisanal craft toward industrial production, tied to labor, politics, and consumption. Looking at this card, we can appreciate how materials, and making, deeply influence an artwork's significance.