Card Number 320, Laura Burt, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: This is "Card Number 320, Laura Burt," a print from the 1880s by W. Duke, Sons & Co., initially created to promote Duke Cigarettes. It’s small and sepia-toned, giving it a really antique feel. I am curious, with images like this one, where do you even begin? Curator: A seemingly simple portrait, right? But let's unpack the historical and social layers embedded within it. We have a portrait of Laura Burt, an actress, reproduced on a cigarette card. The 1880s marked a significant period of industrialization and burgeoning consumer culture, and these cards served as a form of early advertising. What does it mean to have a woman's image, specifically an actress, used to sell cigarettes? Editor: So, it’s not just about selling cigarettes, but also about marketing a certain image of womanhood? Curator: Precisely! The actress becomes a commodity, her likeness intertwined with the allure of the product. Think about the performance aspect, and the very act of selling an idea of ideal womanhood that is at the same time, packaged and sold. The toned paper, the delicate watercolor effect, contributes to a sense of refined femininity, doesn't it? How might this relate to the social expectations placed on women during that time? Editor: It's interesting to consider the intended audience as exclusively male smokers, solidifying the dynamics. Curator: Exactly. This is just a trading card but understanding the underlying gender politics, the social context, adds a critical dimension to our interpretation. What do you take away from looking at the work this way? Editor: I never considered it like this – as a social artifact. Now it feels less like a pretty portrait and more like a statement, however problematic, about the commodification of identity and image. Curator: Exactly. And this is why these images remain compelling! We see not just Laura Burt, but a reflection of societal values.