[Two actresses holding gloves], from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This is a promotional card titled “[Two actresses holding gloves]” created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes sometime between 1870 and 1920. These cards, distributed with cigarette packs, offer a fascinating glimpse into the intersections of celebrity, gender, and commerce during the late 19th century. These actresses, adorned with flowers and elaborate dresses, embody the feminine ideals of the era. Yet, their status as performers also suggests a degree of independence and public visibility that challenged conventional gender roles. Holding gloves, a symbol of refinement, they are commodities themselves, used to sell cigarettes. Consider how the mass production and distribution of these cards democratized access to celebrity imagery, but also commodified it. The actresses were participating in a nascent celebrity culture, where their images were circulated and consumed by a broad public. The photograph captures a moment in which identities were carefully curated and commercialized, inviting us to reflect on the complex relationships between representation, consumption, and identity.