Card Number 628, Hattie Robins, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card for Cross Cut Cigarettes, made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the late 19th century. The photographic image, printed on card stock, depicts the actress Hattie Robins, posed seductively amidst faux foliage. Mass production is at the very heart of this object; this card was one of many made to be included in cigarette packs. Photography allowed for the relatively quick creation of the image, while industrial printing enabled its distribution on a massive scale. This all speaks to the growing power of consumer culture at the time, where even art was being used to fuel sales. But consider the amount of labor involved, from the photographers, to the printing press operators, to the low-wage factory workers who assembled the cigarette packs. This card isn't just about selling cigarettes; it's a glimpse into the complex social and economic forces that shaped the late 19th century. It’s a reminder that art and commerce have always been intertwined, and that even seemingly trivial objects can tell us a great deal about the world in which they were made.