Card Number 250, Kate Gerard, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is "Card Number 250, Kate Gerard," a promotional card from the Actors and Actresses series by W. Duke, Sons & Co., dating back to the late 19th century. The sepia tone creates a nostalgic feel, enveloping the figure of Kate Gerard. The composition divides the space vertically, balancing the actress with the bold text "Cross Cut Cigarettes." This creates a dialogue between the image and the explicit advertisement, merging celebrity and product. Kate's pose, with an outstretched arm, seems to engage directly with the brand name, almost as if she’s endorsing it. What’s striking is the way this commercial art uses classic portraiture conventions. There’s a tension here—the card tries to elevate a product by associating it with celebrity, while at the same time, it reduces Kate Gerard to a mere signifier. This tension reveals how commercial interests appropriate and manipulate cultural symbols. It encourages us to consider how images function within systems of exchange and representation.