[Actress in studio reclining in heavy wooden chair], from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This cabinet card photograph, part of the "Actors and Actresses" series, is a promotional piece produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. for their Duke Cigarettes. Dated to the late 19th century, it depicts an unidentified actress in a theatrical pose, reclining in a heavily ornamented chair. The image is likely meant to evoke a sense of luxury and glamour, associating the Duke brand with a sophisticated and fashionable lifestyle. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City houses this small yet intriguing piece of ephemera, a testament to the use of art in early brand advertising.