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

This black and white photograph from the *Actors and Actresses* series, issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes, features the famous dancer Loie Fuller. The image captures Fuller in a pose from her renowned "Serpentine Dance," a performance style that utilized flowing fabric to create mesmerizing shapes and patterns on stage. The photograph is a prime example of the *carte-de-visite* format, popular in the late 19th century, showcasing the visual culture of the time and its connection to popular entertainment. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses this valuable artifact of theatrical history.