Card Number 227, Prince, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a sepia-toned advertising card, “Card Number 227, Prince” from the Actors and Actresses series, crafted around the turn of the century by W. Duke, Sons & Co. The composition features a performer, identified as "Prince," posed in theatrical garb against a backdrop that mixes constructed and natural elements. The sepia tone lends the image a certain uniformity but consider how this functions. The performer's costume, adorned with tassels and what appears to be floral or star-shaped accents, suggests a kind of mythical hunter. Note how the gaze is directed off to the left, guiding your own sight beyond the frame. The bow and arrow, combined with the hunting horn, contribute to a narrative that seems both classical and commercial. Given that these cards were produced to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes, how might we interpret the use of this character? Is the performer embodying a kind of aspirational image? A figure of power and self-determination? Ultimately, the card functions as a site where performance, identity, and consumerism converge.