Card Number 170, Jennie McNulty, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This card featuring Jennie McNulty was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes. The sepia tone flattens the image, emphasizing tonal values over a full spectrum of color. McNulty reclines against a classical column, her pose carefully arranged. Notice how the composition creates a semiotic contrast: McNulty's relaxed, almost languid pose is juxtaposed with the rigid, architectural lines of the column and the cherubic frieze. This juxtaposition destabilizes traditional notions of classical beauty. The photograph’s intent is less about immortalizing McNulty and more about selling cigarettes, which complicates any straightforward reading of the image. The soft, muted tones and the subject's pose work together to create an aura of accessible luxury. This tension between artistic pretension and commercial purpose is central to understanding its cultural context. Ultimately, the success of this advertising card lies in its ability to blur the lines between art, commerce, and cultural values.