Card Number 762, Annie Sommerville, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 762, Annie Sommerville, from the Actors and Actresses series, printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes. Made in the late 19th century, during a time of burgeoning consumer culture, this card reflects how the commodification of fame intersected with gendered expectations. Annie Sommerville, like other actresses featured in these series, was both celebrated and objectified. The actresses embodied ideals of feminine beauty and were simultaneously reduced to a promotional tool. This image encapsulates the complex dynamics of women in the public eye during this period. Sommerville's poised demeanor, coupled with the theatrical setting, hints at the constructed nature of celebrity. The card invites a dialogue about the gaze, performance, and the ways in which women navigated their identities within the constraints of a patriarchal society. Ultimately, this card serves as a poignant reminder of the intertwined histories of entertainment, commerce, and the evolving roles of women in shaping cultural narratives.