Card Number 129, Kiralfy Troupe, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-6) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 129, Kiralfy Troupe, was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the late 19th century as part of a series to promote Duke Cigarettes. This card reflects a moment when the burgeoning advertising industry began to capitalize on the popularity of live performance. The Kiralfy Troupe, known for their spectacular ballets and stage productions, became a vehicle to promote the consumption of tobacco. The image depicts a performer in costume, complete with an umbrella bearing the company's name. The image romanticizes both the actress and Duke Cigarettes, intertwining feminine allure with the pleasure of smoking. The card presents an interesting intersection of gender, labor, and consumer culture. Actresses, who were often seen as figures of both admiration and moral ambiguity, were used to enhance a product. At the same time, this card participated in constructing ideals of femininity while subtly endorsing a habit that disproportionately affected working-class communities.