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

This small card, dating from the late 19th century in the United States, was made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their cigarettes. Part of a series featuring actors and actresses, it presents an idealized image of Mlle. D'Alencan. These cards functioned as both advertisement and collectible. Their popularity reflects the burgeoning consumer culture of the Gilded Age, where mass-produced items became increasingly adorned with images of celebrities and desirable lifestyles. In this context, the visual codes are clear. The actress's delicate features, floral adornments, and overall presentation evoke ideals of femininity and beauty. The fact that the institution of tobacco production employed and profited from the image of a female actress is a telling commentary on gender and labor in this period. To fully understand this image, one might delve into advertising history, explore the biographies of actresses of the time, and analyze the socio-economic conditions that enabled such mass-produced imagery. Ultimately, this card serves as a reminder that art, even in its most commercial forms, is embedded in a specific time and place, shaped by the institutions and social forces of its era.