Card Number 128, Miss Sadie Martinot, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is "Card Number 128, Miss Sadie Martinot," a promotional card for Cross Cut Cigarettes by W. Duke, Sons & Co. The card presents a sepia-toned image, where Miss Sadie Martinot is elegantly posed. The composition is notably structured around curves and angles. Her dress cascades in soft, flowing lines, contrasting with the geometric structure of the chair, a juxtaposition that creates a visual tension. The sepia tone mutes the details, emphasizing form over color, a technique that invites the viewer to consider the play of light and shadow. Semiotically, the image functions as a sign, where the actress represents the aspirational lifestyle the advertisers are selling. Her relaxed posture suggests ease and sophistication, qualities implicitly linked to the cigarettes. The inscription ‘Cross Cut Cigarettes are the Best’ acts as a textual signifier reinforcing this message. The print challenges conventional portraiture by prioritizing commercial appeal over individual expression. It invites a deeper understanding of how media constructs desire. It's not just about what we see, but how we interpret the signs embedded within the image.