Card Number 340, Leonda Jarcaw, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: This is “Card Number 340, Leonda Jarcaw,” part of the "Actors and Actresses" series from the 1880s. It was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as an advertisement for Cameo Cigarettes. It's a photograph and print combo, housed at the Met. There’s something incredibly evocative about it. The faded sepia tones make her look like a ghost of old-time celebrity, but that little advertisement disrupts the feeling a bit. What do you see in this piece? Curator: You're right; it’s more than just a portrait, isn't it? It's a confluence of art, commerce, and… dare I say, aspiration. Imagine holding this little card, with Leonda gazing back, while you're puffing away. There is an interesting cross-cultural influence at play too. Doesn’t it also hint at the burgeoning Japonisme craze of the late 19th century? Something about the simplified background and composition, what do you think? Editor: Japonisme? That's fascinating! I can see the subtle connection now that you mention it. Before, I was stuck on the theatricality of the image – it feels like a stage still. The advertisement seems like a deliberate intrusion. Were these kinds of promotional cards common? Curator: Massively popular. It’s funny, these small printed cigarette cards often become little portals through which the cultural winds of the time gust. Think about it – a celebrity portrait designed to sell smokes! And yet, it's also a tangible record of a performer largely lost to time. In that way, does the advertisement taint or perhaps elevate? Editor: I hadn't considered that. I guess it’s both. It definitely adds layers to how we perceive it today. It also helps us learn something of Leonda, and Japonisme! Thanks so much for your insights. Curator: My pleasure! Art reveals new secrets with every glimpse. It seems there's still smoke and fire hiding behind that vintage photograph.