Card Number 221, Annie Dunscomb, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is a promotional card for Cross Cut Cigarettes, produced in the United States by W. Duke, Sons & Co. between 1870 and 1920. It features a photograph of Annie Dunscomb, an actress, posed in what was considered a suggestive manner at the time. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs as a marketing strategy, capitalizing on the burgeoning popularity of both tobacco and celebrity culture. The practice blurred the lines between art, entertainment, and commerce. Such cards also reveal much about the social and cultural norms of the period. Consider the way Dunscomb is depicted: her posture, clothing, and gaze. How do these elements speak to the era's attitudes towards women, performance, and public image? The institutional history of advertising is critical here. By studying sources like trade publications, company records, and social commentaries, we can gain a deeper understanding of how images like this one shaped perceptions and desires in a rapidly changing society. The meaning of art, as this card proves, is always contingent on its social and institutional context.