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

This card, from the Actors and Actresses series by W. Duke, Sons & Co., presents an image dominated by a sepia tone, which washes the subject in a uniform colour. The composition features Blanche C. Ford in a formal gown, positioned next to an ornate, wrought-iron stand. The use of monochrome flattens the visual field, emphasizing shape over depth. Light and shadow are rendered subtly, softening the details of the figure and dress. The composition is rigidly structured. The vertical lines of the ironwork act as a counterpoint to the curves of the dress and floral decoration. This card, intended as a collectible insert in cigarette packs, serves less as a portrait and more as a sign. The actress becomes an emblem of elegance, commodified and circulated as part of Duke’s marketing strategy. The interplay between figure and formal elements turns the actress into an object and a symbol of status, reflecting the cultural values of its time. The overall effect is a study in how form mediates meaning.