Card Number 393, Della Castro, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card featuring Della Castro from the Actors and Actresses series, crafted around the turn of the century by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. The composition is structured around a central portrait, emphasizing the actress’s poised presentation. Notice how the sepia tones create a nostalgic atmosphere and a sense of faded elegance. The formal arrangement presents Della Castro with a large fan, which serves both as a prop and as a structural element. The fan's radial lines contrast with the soft curves of her face and hat, drawing the eye across the frame. Such cards functioned within a burgeoning culture of celebrity and consumerism. They used semiotic codes—the actress's image, her attire, and the explicit text—to construct an association between glamour, performance, and the consumption of cigarettes. These cards helped establish a system where cultural figures endorsed products, influencing social values and perceptions. This commercial dynamic reshaped how art and identity could be disseminated.