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

Editor: This is "Fanny Ward" from the Actors and Actresses series, published between 1890 and 1895 by Duke Sons & Co. It’s an albumen print – essentially, a photograph – used as a promotional card for Duke Cigarettes. The image has this dreamy sepia tone and...well, it’s a bit saucy, isn’t it? I wonder, what is your take on this kind of imagery? Curator: Oh, "saucy" is one word for it! To me, it’s a fascinating little time capsule. These cards were hugely popular; imagine collecting these with your cigarettes! The actresses depicted were the celebrities of their day. Think of it – photography was still fairly new, and these images brought glamour directly to the masses. There's this odd combination of allure and…innocence, wouldn’t you say? The "erotic-art" tag seems a bit strong; more like playful teasing, wouldn’t you agree? Editor: Hmm, playful teasing... I suppose. I mean, she's holding a bow, so maybe a reference to cupid? It’s interesting how advertising used art, even then. What purpose did that kind of blurring serve? Curator: Precisely! Early advertising realized beauty sells, desire sells. The bow definitely plays into it – romance, allure. Duke was cleverly associating its brand with these qualities. A little fantasy goes a long way. Do you feel any resonance to this piece now that you consider it through the lens of commercial strategies? Editor: Absolutely! It feels much more deliberate now. It’s not just a pretty picture; it’s a calculated message. Curator: And, you know, in that sense, not much has changed in over a century. Editor: That's a fascinating and ever-relevant point to end on.