Miss Farance, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This is Miss Farance, from the Actors and Actresses series, a promotional card distributed by Duke Sons & Co. to advertise Duke Cigarettes. These cards were products of the late 19th century, a time when the burgeoning tobacco industry used images of popular actresses to market their goods. Miss Farance is depicted in what is likely a theatrical costume, complete with wooden shoes and a gathered skirt. It gives the impression of a ‘milkmaid’ or ‘peasant girl’. The image is carefully posed, yet attempts to evoke an archetype of rural simplicity. Consider the power dynamics at play: here is a woman, an actress, commodified as part of a marketing strategy. Her identity is subsumed by the need to sell cigarettes. What we see is not necessarily Miss Farance herself, but a constructed image intended to appeal to consumers. The card reflects broader societal trends, where images of women were often used to sell products, reinforcing gendered expectations. It makes you wonder about the real stories of these actresses, and how they navigated their identities within the constraints of their time.