Card Number 613, Misses Arnold and Stone, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card from the late 19th century, issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to advertise Cross Cut Cigarettes. It features a photograph of Misses Arnold and Stone, identified as ‘actors and actresses.’ These cards were part of a larger cultural phenomenon where tobacco companies used images of celebrities, athletes, and performers to attract consumers. In that sense, this image speaks volumes about the commodification of celebrity and the intertwining of entertainment and commerce in the Gilded Age. The actresses, posed in what was considered alluring attire at the time, exemplify the use of female figures to sell products. To fully understand this card, one might delve into the archives of advertising history, theatre ephemera, and the records of tobacco companies. It's a reminder that art and visual culture are always embedded in a specific social and institutional context, and interpreting them requires a keen awareness of those forces.