Actress wearing draped gown, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card from the Actors and Actresses series, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to advertise Cross Cut Cigarettes around the turn of the 20th century. These cards were a clever marketing strategy, capitalizing on the burgeoning cult of celebrity. Actresses, like the one depicted here, were among the first women to achieve widespread fame, their images circulating in newspapers, magazines, and, yes, even cigarette packs. In this light we see the representation of women being intertwined with commerce and consumption. The actress, with her soft features and elegantly draped gown, embodies an ideal of feminine beauty. Yet her image is also a commodity, a tool used to sell tobacco products to a largely male audience. This card reminds us of the complex relationship between women, representation, and consumer culture in the late 19th century. It invites us to reflect on how women's identities are often shaped and commodified by the male gaze.