Card Number 346, Leonda Jarcaw, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This small card featuring actress Leonda Jarcaw was made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes. These cards, mass-produced through photolithography, reflect the era's booming advertising industry and the increasing intersection of commerce with entertainment. The sepia tone and the card's material – thin, coated paper – speak to the industrial processes of the time. The image itself is a product of both photography and printing, each step involving its own form of labor. It also carries the heavy imprint of consumerism and the commodification of celebrity. Ultimately, the card is a reminder of how deeply intertwined art, industry, and culture have become, challenging our assumptions about artistic value and purpose.