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

This is a promotional card of Clara Coleman from the Actors and Actresses series, printed by Duke Sons & Co. to advertise Duke Cigarettes, sometime between 1870 and 1920. These cards were a part of a larger cultural phenomenon, reflecting the burgeoning celebrity culture and the commodification of images in the late 19th century. Clara Coleman, like other actresses featured, was caught in a complex web of admiration and objectification. The card is small, almost intimate, inviting a personal connection, yet it was mass-produced, turning her image into a product. Consider the role of women in the theater during this era, often celebrated yet simultaneously judged by stringent social standards. Duke Cigarettes used these actresses’ likeness to promote their product, highlighting how femininity was used to sell commodities. How do you feel looking at this image? Does it evoke a sense of nostalgia, or does it prompt questions about the dynamics of fame, gender, and commerce?