Card Number 639, Pauline Markham, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This card of Pauline Markham, from the Actors and Actresses series, was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. The composition is dominated by the central figure, arranged in a gentle, S-curve. The sepia tones and textured surfaces give a tactile sense, hinting at the materiality of early photographic prints. Markham is posed semi-nude, partially draped with lace, a common pose within the music hall culture of the time. The figure’s placement and expression destabilize conventional categories of portraiture. Markham, an actress and dancer, embodies the commercial intersection of entertainment and consumer culture. This challenges the fixed notions of high and low art, presenting a complex interplay of fame, commodity, and representation. Ultimately, the card becomes not just a promotional item but a signifier of broader social and cultural dynamics.