Card Number 241, Clara Primrose, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to advertise Cross Cut Cigarettes. It features Clara Primrose, an actress, likely from the late 19th century, a period when the burgeoning commercial culture intersected with popular entertainment. These cards were essentially miniature portraits, and the actresses, like Clara, were performers who occupied a unique place in the public imagination. Women on stage were figures of both admiration and scrutiny, navigating the complex expectations of femininity and performance. Their visibility was a double-edged sword, offering a platform but also exposing them to intense public and media attention. Clara, adorned with a crown, is dressed in costume, adopting a pose of poised confidence, almost defiance. Through the mass production of these cards, her image was widely disseminated, contributing to the evolving notions of celebrity and femininity at the turn of the century. The card reflects the complex relationship between commerce, entertainment, and identity in a rapidly changing society. It invites us to consider the individuals behind the images and the narratives they helped create.