Mlle. Lillis, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is Mlle. Lillis, an advertisement issued by Duke Sons & Co., sometime between 1870 and 1920, to promote Duke Cigarettes. These cards were originally included in cigarette packs, incentivizing repeat purchases and brand loyalty. What does it mean to attach an image of a woman, Mlle. Lillis, to a product like cigarettes? During this period, women were challenging traditional roles and entering public life, including the entertainment industry. The image of Mlle. Lillis, an actress, astride a bicycle, becomes a symbol of both modern femininity and commodity culture. There's an interesting tension here. While Mlle. Lillis appears self-assured, she is simultaneously a figure of empowerment and an object of consumption. The card participates in broader debates about women’s roles and their representation in advertising. Ultimately, this small card offers a glimpse into the complex dynamics of gender, commerce, and representation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.