Actress wearing cap decorated with coins, from Stars of the Stage, Fourth Series (N132) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1892 - 1893

This small chromolithograph, made by W. Duke, Sons & Co., was part of a series of cards used to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco. It features a fair-skinned actress adorned in what’s intended to be perceived as ‘exotic’ attire. During this era, the rise of mass media intersected with increasing imperialist expansion. These cards, distributed widely, played a role in shaping and circulating ideas about race, culture, and identity. Note the actress's cap decorated with coins and her beaded necklace. These elements exoticize and romanticize other cultures for American consumers, reinforcing a sense of Western superiority. It’s important to remember that these images weren’t neutral; they were tools used to sell products and promote certain ideologies. This commercial card reminds us to critically examine the visual culture that surrounds us. It prompts us to consider how representation shapes our perceptions and reinforces social hierarchies.