Card Number 712, Carmen, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: This is Card Number 712, Carmen, from the Actors and Actresses series. It's an 1880s print by W. Duke, Sons & Co. promoting Cross Cut Cigarettes. The photograph feels a bit faded and stiff, almost like a forgotten dream, and it is interesting it was made as an advertissement. What do you find most compelling about this image? Curator: Faded dreams... yes! It whispers of fleeting moments captured in sepia tones, doesn't it? Imagine, a ballerina, a fleeting vision of grace, embalmed on a cigarette card. A dance with smoke and illusion! The contrast is captivating, right? Editor: Absolutely. Why use high art to sell a somewhat unglamorous product? Curator: Perhaps to imbue smoking with a sense of refinement, of artistry! These cards transformed everyday objects into portable fantasies, a tangible piece of glamour. Is she really Carmen, or a vision _of_ Carmen, wreathed in tulle? Think about the era. The ballerina would have been considered radical! Does that not blow your mind?! Editor: It does! And placing her image in the hands of smokers – it's quite a statement, even if accidental. Something that was seen and shared everyday like the TikTok videos now. Curator: Precisely! The cigarette cards could bring beauty to their daily lives. Almost anyone, regardless of status, could experience high-level artistic expression. Thank you for the inspiration, I´ll remember this photograph every time I go by smoke shops. Editor: The layers in this piece are fascinating. Thanks so much for sharing your insights.