Card Number 174, Alma Stanley, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Curator: So, here we have a promotional card from the 1880s, "Card Number 174, Alma Stanley," part of the "Actors and Actresses" series issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote their Cross Cut Cigarettes. It’s currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by this sepia dream, that sort of hazy intimacy it projects despite being advertising. It feels like I've stumbled into a memory. Curator: Indeed, the photographic print, typical of trade cards of that era, presents an idealized image of Alma Stanley, a stage actress. The production and circulation of these cards speak volumes about celebrity culture and commercial strategies during the late 19th century. Editor: And those socks! Bold, graphic. Almost feel a contemporary clash with the soft, romantic pose, yet she’s entirely at ease. Is it the knowing look, a hint of playful rebellion peeking out? Curator: Perhaps! Or a clever alignment of commerce and public desires. Tobacco companies employed these portraits to associate glamour with their products. Her attire and that little book enhance her image as a woman of culture, drawing in diverse customers. Editor: Absolutely! It’s genius marketing. But I'm caught up in the implied narrative. That subtle asymmetry in her posture—it suggests she’s about to share a secret, some delicious gossip maybe. It’s very compelling. Curator: This speaks to how photographic images were carefully curated to cultivate specific public personas, reinforcing certain ideas about womanhood and success while strategically advancing a particular product. Editor: To me, the picture feels like more than just advertising. Alma’s quiet confidence somehow overshadows the Cross Cut Cigarettes logo overhead. You are instantly endeared. It works, I'd probably buy a pack if given the chance. Curator: Precisely, even today it retains that evocative ability and is displayed in a museum rather than residing solely within the ephemera of marketing. The card testifies to the potent alchemy of commerce and celebrity, constantly transforming across centuries. Editor: So next time I have an artistic or personal block, maybe the answer lies in finding the delicate tension between comfort and something slightly scandalous—just like Ms. Stanley. Thanks for unraveling a bit of her secret with me!