Mary Anderson in Old Russian Costume as a Girl of Kioursk, from the set Actors and Actresses, First Series (N70) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888 - 1889

W. Duke, Sons & Co. produced this vibrant chromolithograph trading card as part of a series called Actors and Actresses. It features Mary Anderson in traditional Russian costume. The card’s composition is vertically oriented and intimately scaled, presenting Anderson in a formal, almost iconic manner. The artist’s rendering of Anderson's attire is rich with semiotic meaning. Her ornate headdress, detailed with faux jewels and metallic accents, alongside layers of necklaces, signifies status and cultural identity. The soft pink and gold trim on her dress adds a gentle contrast to the otherwise pale palette, drawing the viewer's eye. The entire structure of the image, from the frontal pose to the meticulous rendering of details, places Anderson within a framework of cultural representation. Note the way the symmetrical balance of the composition and the stylized features offer a controlled image, yet hints of theatricality and role-play subtly destabilize a singular, fixed identity. The card isn't just a portrait but a comment on representation and identity as performance.