[Actress wearing ornate cap], from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

Editor: This is a photographic print titled '[Actress wearing ornate cap]' made by W. Duke, Sons & Co. sometime between 1890 and 1895. It's such a soft, faded image. What stands out to you in this portrait? Curator: I think it is key to remember that W. Duke, Sons & Co. was a tobacco company. This wasn't just a portrait, but part of a larger series used as advertising inserts in cigarette packs. These images often served to associate smoking with sophistication and the glamorous world of theatre. Think about who was excluded from this vision of "high culture"? Editor: That's interesting; I didn't consider the marketing aspect. How might the series play into the representation of women at that time? Curator: This image, and others like it, romanticized and objectified women, especially actresses. This positioned them as commodities to be consumed, not unlike the cigarettes they were promoting. This is part of a larger conversation regarding women in the workforce, especially actresses. What this portrait is *not* showing us, is a lot of their professional and private experiences. Editor: So it's more than just a pretty picture; it’s part of a system? Curator: Precisely. And that system reinforces power dynamics of gender and class that extend beyond the frame of the photograph. Advertising such as this helped dictate acceptable images of femininity, all in the service of commerce. How might it shape consumers' ideas? Editor: I never really thought of the connection between advertising, art, and cultural norms in this way. It gives me a lot to consider moving forward. Curator: Me too.