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

This actress in profile, was printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co. between 1870 and 1920, as part of a series of promotional cards for Honest Long Cut Tobacco. These cards were made by lithography, a printing process that allows for the mass production of detailed images. The process involves drawing an image on a flat stone or metal plate with a greasy substance, then applying ink, which adheres only to the greasy areas, and finally pressing the image onto paper. Here, the lithographic technique captures the actress's likeness, with subtle gradations of tone and color that bring her features to life. The card's small size and the series it belongs to speak to its intended use as a collectible item, distributed with tobacco products to entice customers. These promotional cards blur the lines between art and commerce, highlighting the role of mass production in shaping popular culture. They remind us that the images we consume are often the result of complex industrial processes.