Card Number 180, Geraldine Ulmer, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 180, Geraldine Ulmer, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1), a promotional cigarette card produced by Duke Sons & Co. The sepia tone gives the card a nostalgic, almost dreamlike quality. Formally, the composition is carefully arranged. The subject, Geraldine Ulmer, is centered, her gaze directed slightly off to the side, creating a sense of depth. The fan in her hand and the folds of her kimono introduce a series of lines and shapes that draw the eye across the image. The sepia tone flattens the image and creates a consistent texture, typical of mass-produced photographs of the time. The text at the top and bottom of the card serve not only as labels but also as graphic elements which frame the central image. The use of Japanese clothing and props in the image engages with broader cultural trends of the late 19th century, particularly the fascination with exoticism. This interest, however, does not represent an actual engagement with Japan but a superficial appropriation for commercial purposes. In this context, the card itself functions as a signifier, encoding layers of cultural meaning related to consumerism, celebrity and representation.