Card Number 229, Edith Kingdon, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 229, Edith Kingdon, was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. sometime between 1870 and 1920, using mass production printing methods. As a promotional item for Cross Cut Cigarettes, its material presence speaks to the rise of consumer culture. The card's small size and sepia-toned image evoke the intimacy of a portrait, yet its function was purely commercial. Edith Kingdon, an actress, is presented not as an individual but as a desirable image, linked to the pleasure of smoking. Consider the labor involved in producing these cards on a massive scale, contrasting it with the refined image of the actress. This conflation of art, advertising, and industry challenges traditional hierarchies. The card invites us to consider how everyday objects can carry complex social and economic meanings, blurring the boundaries between fine art and the ephemera of popular culture.