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

This is a carte-de-visite, a type of small photograph popular in the 19th century, featuring actress Leonda Jarcaw. Created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes, the image showcases Jarcaw in a theatrical pose, leaning against a textured backdrop. The photograph, likely taken in the 1880s, is a testament to the emerging use of photography for advertising and the promotion of entertainment. The image, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the world of late 19th-century theater and the rise of commercial branding.