Card Number 561, Kiralfys Black Crook, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: This is an advertisement card from the 1880s, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. It’s a print, probably made from a photograph. The card features two actresses, presumably from a show called "Kiralfy's Black Crook." They seem to be reclining or posing together and the mood is sort of…dreamy? What do you see in this piece? Curator: The symbolism is thick in this image, and very of its time! Consider the rose garlands on their dresses and hair; what do roses traditionally represent? Editor: Love? Beauty? Maybe luxury? Curator: Exactly. Now think about what Duke Cigarettes wanted to associate with their brand. The rose is a very calculated symbol, isn’t it? But even more subtly, look at the slight blurring, almost like an idealized dream image. Who would these cigarette cards appeal to and why? Editor: Well, young men probably, fantasizing about beautiful actresses… Is that blurring used to heighten a sense of idealized beauty, of fantasy, that they're trying to sell along with cigarettes? Curator: Precisely. And the physical act of holding and perhaps even collecting these cards? Do you think that may have amplified that personal connection to a celebrity or character of interest? The company created something easily repeatable that allowed more people to participate in their consumption. The card isn’t simply a promotion for "Duke Cigarettes are the Best"; rather it presents a little piece of art that’s accessible. Editor: That makes me rethink how I view advertisement. This small photograph is not just trying to make you buy cigarettes, it's trading on deeper, more complex symbols of desire. Thank you!