[Actress wearing costume with ornate pointed headpiece], from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This small photograph, made around 1888 by W. Duke, Sons & Co., presents an actress from their "Actors and Actresses" series, which was originally used to promote Duke Cigarettes. In the late 19th century, the rise of mass media coincided with evolving social and cultural norms around women and performance. Actresses often navigated a complex terrain of admiration and moral scrutiny, performing femininity and sexuality in ways that both challenged and reinforced societal expectations. The ornate costume with its pointed headpiece, emphasizes the actress’s constructed identity, a persona crafted for the stage and public consumption. Consider the actress's gaze; does it meet ours, or does she look off into the distance, inviting us to contemplate her role and perhaps our own perceptions? The card itself becomes a token of exchange, circulating images of femininity and desire within the burgeoning consumer culture. It underscores the entwined relationship between performance, identity, and commerce.