Alma Stanley, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a photograph of Alma Stanley, from the Actors and Actresses series, made around the turn of the century to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. The sepia tones lend the image a soft, almost dreamlike quality, typical of early photographic processes. Alma Stanley is captured in profile, her gaze directed off to the left, inviting speculation about what captures her attention. The composition emphasizes the contrast between the sharp, precise lines of her profile and the more diffused, textured elements of her hair. This contrast creates a dynamic visual tension, drawing the eye across the image and highlighting the artifice of constructed celebrity. The photograph's inherent flatness is a key element. By embracing this two-dimensionality, the image challenges traditional notions of depth and realism, offering instead a self-aware commentary on representation and the mediated nature of fame. The photograph functions as a sign, both of a person and of a carefully cultivated image.