Card Number 376, Mlle. Knight, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 376, Mlle. Knight, a promotional card for Cross Cut Cigarettes made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. sometime between 1870 and 1920. These cards, trading cards really, speak to the intersection of entertainment, advertising, and emerging consumer culture. Mlle. Knight, presumably a stage performer, is depicted in costume. She looks frankly at the viewer, challenging notions of feminine virtue. During this period, the rise of mass media created both opportunities and challenges for women, especially in the public sphere. Actresses occupied a precarious position; celebrated for their talent but often scrutinized for their personal lives. The card reflects this tension, presenting Mlle. Knight as both a desirable figure and a symbol of the era’s changing social norms. While seemingly a simple advertisement, this card encapsulates the complex negotiation of identity, gender, and commerce in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.