Card Number 204, Clara Want, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-5) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: So, here we have "Card Number 204, Clara Want" from the Actors and Actresses series, dating back to the 1880s. It’s a promotional card for Cameo Cigarettes by Duke Sons & Co. What strikes me immediately is the old-fashioned sepia tone and her, frankly, quite mischievous expression. What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious advertisement? Curator: Oh, mischievous indeed! This isn't just selling cigarettes; it's selling a fantasy. Imagine, a theatre star on a cigarette card! It suggests a glamorous lifestyle, accessible with every puff. The somewhat theatrical lighting accentuates Clara’s playful gaze. And don't you find it curious that they paired a drawing aesthetic with a photograph? As if they tried to make it artful for that Victorian crowd, who probably yearned for authenticity but loved a touch of fancy. It also speaks volumes about celebrity culture even back then, wouldn't you say? Editor: Definitely! So it's about aspiration and the blurring lines between art, advertising, and celebrity? Curator: Precisely! It makes you wonder what Clara Want herself thought about being immortalized on a cigarette card. Did she even smoke? Or was she in on the joke? Maybe she collected the cards of other actresses herself. One wonders. Editor: That’s fascinating – this little card opens up such a big conversation about marketing and fame. Thanks for sharing your insights! Curator: My pleasure! It’s those kinds of forgotten ephemeral pieces that whisper the loudest secrets about history and imagination, I feel.