Mable Clark, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This portrait of Mable Clark was made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the 20th century, using photographic methods. But it’s not just a picture – it’s also a piece of industrial design. The sepia tone and small size speak to its original purpose: a collectible card distributed with Duke Cigarettes. Think of it as an early form of advertising, designed to be traded and collected. These cards were made using industrial printing processes, a far cry from the hand-painted portraits of the wealthy. The image itself, while seemingly straightforward, is deeply tied to labor and class. Mable Clark, the actress, becomes a commodity, her image mass-produced to sell cigarettes. These cards offer us a glimpse into the everyday lives and aspirations of people at the time, showing how photography became deeply embedded in consumer culture. This mass production of images democratized art, making it accessible to a wider audience, but also blurring the lines between art, advertising, and commodity culture.