Card Number 192, Maud Grau, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 192, Maud Grau, from the Actors and Actresses series, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as a promotional item for Cameo Cigarettes. These cards, popular in the late 19th century, offer us a glimpse into the world of celebrity and consumer culture. Maud Grau, posed here with a shepherd's crook, embodies a romanticized vision of femininity that was highly marketable. As we consider the context in which this image was produced, it's important to recognize the intertwined roles of women, advertising, and the burgeoning entertainment industry. Grau's identity as a performer is leveraged to sell cigarettes, reflecting the commodification of female images and the construction of desire in consumer culture. The card reduces her identity to a mere promotional tool, raising questions about the agency and representation of women in the public sphere. These cards both reflected and shaped societal values, highlighting the power of images in shaping perceptions. They serve as a reminder of the complex relationship between art, commerce, and the construction of identity.