Van Osten, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Curator: Here we have an advertisement card from the 1880s created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of their "Actors and Actresses" series promoting Cross Cut Cigarettes. This particular card features a woman identified as "Van Osten." Editor: It has such a sepia, ethereal quality. It makes me feel nostalgic, but in a way that acknowledges a certain distance, a kind of bygone artificiality. It’s a posed world we’re looking at. Curator: These cards, initially included in cigarette packs, were immensely popular, sparking a collecting craze. Think about how tobacco companies strategically utilized celebrity endorsements to boost sales and cultivate brand loyalty. It reflects the rise of mass media and consumer culture. Editor: Right. The way they use the female image is central to their strategy. We can see how idealized notions of femininity were exploited to sell these products, linking performance and identity to consumption in problematic ways. How much were these women in control of their image at this time? Curator: That’s a great point. The distribution of these images through mass-produced cards certainly amplified their reach, but it also commercialized them. Consider, too, that many of these actresses were gaining visibility during a period of social change, particularly for women entering the workforce. Editor: Precisely. And the presentation here reinforces certain expectations – she’s decorative, poised… It underscores that the performing arts, especially for women, often existed under a scrutinizing male gaze. This advertisement becomes another venue for that kind of display and commodification. Curator: Yes, this single image acts as a convergence point. It reveals the celebrity culture, the nascent advertising industry, and also anxieties of female performers' public personas at that moment. All within the context of tobacco consumption, which has its own implications. Editor: Looking at it now, it feels so layered. It highlights the constructed nature of fame and identity, even as it worked as a straightforward advertisement at the time. We are given much to consider, regarding representation, agency, and the history of consumerism. Curator: A simple card with a not-so-simple past.