Card Number 220, Miss Reyes, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is "Card Number 220, Miss Reyes," produced around 1880 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as a promotional item for Cross Cut Cigarettes. The sepia-toned card features a full-length portrait of Miss Reyes, leaning suggestively against a balustrade. The composition is striking. Miss Reyes' pose, with one leg crossed jauntily over the other, creates a dynamic interplay of lines. This is juxtaposed with the static, horizontal lines of the balustrade and the verticality of its supports. These structural elements frame her figure, drawing the eye upwards, and the folds of draped fabric introduce a tactile quality which contrasts with the smooth surface of the card itself. This interplay challenges conventional notions of portraiture. Rather than a straightforward representation, we see a carefully constructed image designed to evoke desire and associate it with the consumption of cigarettes. The card's success lies in its ability to merge art with commerce.