Jennie Calef as "The Rosebud," from the series Fancy Dress Ball Costumes (N73) for Duke brand cigarettes 1889

This is “Jennie Calef as “The Rosebud,” from the series Fancy Dress Ball Costumes (N73) for Duke brand cigarettes,” created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the late 19th century. Tobacco cards like this were immensely popular, inserted into cigarette packs as a marketing tactic. Here we see Jennie Calef, a young woman of the time, adorned in an elaborate floral costume, embodying idealized beauty standards of the Gilded Age. Yet, this image is more than just a pretty picture. It reflects the complex social dynamics of the time, including the commodification of women's images within burgeoning consumer culture. It asks us to consider how women were both celebrated and objectified. The “rosebud” evokes notions of innocence and burgeoning sexuality, themes deeply embedded in the art and literature of the period. It is a reminder that even seemingly harmless ephemera can reveal much about the values, anxieties, and power structures of a bygone era. Consider how this image, intended to sell cigarettes, also tells a story about gender, representation, and the evolving role of women in society.