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

This card, from the late 19th century, was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of a series promoting their Duke Cigarettes. These cards offer a glimpse into the cultural landscape of the time, revealing the intertwined nature of entertainment, commerce, and the construction of identity. This image presents a seated actress in a staged outdoor setting. She is dressed in a light-colored, striped dress and a fashionable hat. Her gaze is soft and her posture relaxed. Representations of women in this era, particularly actresses, were often carefully crafted to meet societal expectations of beauty and femininity, while simultaneously hinting at the allure and independence associated with the stage. The distribution of such images through tobacco products speaks volumes about the target audience: largely white, middle-class men. As such, the actress becomes a commodity, packaged and consumed along with the cigarettes. The emotional connection to this image can range from admiration to critical awareness of the commercialization of art.