Card Number 135, Mary Anderson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This card featuring Mary Anderson, was issued by Duke Sons & Co., sometime between 1870 and 1920, as part of a series of promotional items for Cameo Cigarettes. The image operates as a social document, reflecting the period's values and commercial strategies. Mary Anderson, a celebrated actress, is depicted in a style that emphasizes beauty and grace. This image associates sophistication and celebrity with the consumption of tobacco. In the late 19th century, the rise of consumer culture led to the innovative use of celebrity endorsements in advertising. Tobacco companies often used images of popular figures to enhance their products' appeal. This conflation of art, celebrity, and commerce raises questions about the role of cultural figures in shaping consumer behavior and the responsibilities of artists in a rapidly commercializing society. Understanding the social impact requires looking into advertising history, the biographies of figures like Mary Anderson, and the business practices of companies like Duke Sons & Co. The meaning of art, therefore, is something contingent on social and institutional context.