Virginia Harned, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This is a promotional card of the actress Virginia Harned, issued by Duke Sons & Co., a cigarette manufacturer in the late 19th century. These cards were a common marketing tactic, offering consumers a collectible glimpse into the glamorous lives of stage and sports stars. The image captures Harned in profile, adorned with a feathered hat and fur stole; markers of wealth and status, but also of the constricted roles available to women at the time. Harned was a prominent actress known for her performances in plays that explored complex emotional landscapes. Though celebrated, actresses of this period were often subject to intense public scrutiny, their personal lives fodder for gossip. This card, then, serves as both a celebration of Harned’s talent and a reminder of the commodification of her image. It invites us to consider the ways in which women's identities are shaped by societal expectations and commercial interests, an issue as relevant then as it is now.