[Actress dressed as cupid perched on prop column], from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This sepia-toned photograph, part of the "Actors and Actresses" series, features an actress portraying Cupid, the Roman god of love and desire. The actress is depicted with a bow and arrow, standing on a column, dressed in a suggestive costume that highlights her femininity. This suggestive imagery was popular in the late 19th century, and the card was issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote their Duke cigarettes. The photograph is a prime example of trade cards, a type of advertisement popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.