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

This is a promotional cigarette card of Mlle. Chalo, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. between 1870 and 1920. The card belongs to a series featuring actors and actresses, a cultural phenomenon that intersected with the rise of both mass media and consumer culture. The image of Mlle. Chalo, with her elaborate costume and poised demeanor, speaks to the spectacle of theater and the commodification of celebrity. It invites questions about how women performers were represented and consumed in this era. The lace trim around the neckline, and the bow perched atop her head, construct a vision of femininity designed to sell cigarettes. Although these cards seem like innocuous novelties, they played a role in shaping societal ideals and desires, entwining personal identity with consumer choices.