Card Number 343, Lillian Grubb, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Curator: This is card number 343 from the Actors and Actresses series, featuring Lillian Grubb. It was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the 1880s as a promotional item for Cross Cut Cigarettes. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the stark contrast between the subject’s refined appearance and the context—a cigarette advertisement. There’s a strange tension there. Curator: Precisely! These cards offer a fascinating glimpse into the marketing strategies of the late 19th century. They were included in cigarette packs to entice consumers, a phenomenon that speaks volumes about the era's commercial landscape. These cards normalized smoking, and aligned the habit with aspirations of wealth, class, and access to celebrity. Editor: You're right. The portrait itself is quite formal, almost regal. Grubb is posed in profile, and is wearing a fancy cap. One wonders if she actively participated in shaping her image, or if it was dictated by the company. What did it mean to be a woman, an actress, whose likeness was literally consumed alongside tobacco? Curator: That’s a key question to ask. We need to understand that in this time, the lines between performance, personal life, and public image were being heavily negotiated by those in the entertainment industry. These cards, like much commercial art, constructed very particular ideals about beauty, about fame, and how those things could be achieved. Editor: And even as we admire the print for its historical value, we must also remember the damaging health effects these companies actively obscured in the pursuit of profits. What a conflicting legacy. Curator: Yes, it serves as a powerful reminder that art, even in its most commercial form, is embedded in a web of social, political, and ethical considerations. Editor: Exactly. I see now how much it invites questions about the commodification of both people and harmful products, a legacy we continue to grapple with today.