Leonda Jarcaw, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This small card, produced around the turn of the century by W. Duke, Sons & Co., features the actress Leonda Jarcaw and was issued to promote Cameo Cigarettes. The photographic image, printed on paper, is a testament to the industrialization of image-making. The card's materiality speaks volumes about its intended use. It's a mass-produced object, designed for distribution within cigarette packs, and like other ephemera of the time, it blurs the lines between art, advertising, and everyday life. The photographic technique, while seemingly straightforward, involved complex chemical processes and printing technologies, reflecting the rise of consumer culture and the use of images to sell products. Consider the labor involved: from the photographers and printers to the factory workers who inserted these cards into cigarette packs, it's a portrait of early consumer capitalism. Cards like these were never intended to be considered 'art' but can offer valuable insight into social values and commercial strategies of their time.