Isabelle Irving, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This photographic print of Isabelle Irving, part of the Actors and Actresses series, was issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes. The delicate sepia tone and soft focus create an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality, evoking nostalgia and a sense of idealized beauty. The composition is carefully structured to emphasize Irving’s figure, posed elegantly in a light-colored dress with puffed sleeves, holding a hat adorned with flowers. The backdrop, though blurred, hints at a textured wall, adding depth to the image. The limited tonal range focuses our attention on the interplay of light and shadow, defining the forms and contours of Irving's figure. Considered as a sign, Irving, the actress, signifies beauty, grace, and aspiration. The choice of a popular actress to promote cigarettes speaks volumes about the cultural codes at play. Beauty and success become inextricably linked to the product, inviting consumers to participate in this world of glamour. This highlights how commercial imagery functions not merely as advertisement, but as a complex system of representation that shapes desires and identities.