Jennie Ricci, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: This is a promotional trading card from the 1880s for Duke Cigarettes, part of the "Actors and Actresses" series. It features Jennie Ricci, a performer of the time, and is a photographic print. The sepia tone and small size give it an intimate feeling. What strikes you most about this portrait? Curator: Immediately, it's the texture that grabs my attention. Note how the soft gradations of tone across her dress contrast with the crisp detail in her hat and fan. The interplay of light and shadow defines the composition. The photographer has skillfully used these elements to direct our eye, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. The ruffles in the dress especially create a nice sense of movement despite the stillness of the photograph. What does that juxtaposition signify, in your opinion? Curator: Semiotically, it’s a fascinating contrast. The still photograph attempts to capture the essence of a dynamic performer. Think about it: photography capturing theater. It suggests a desire to fix and contain something inherently ephemeral, much like a cigarette card seeks to capture a fleeting moment of consumer desire. The layering here is key to that understanding. Editor: That's an interesting point. The layers of the dress also reflect layers of performance, and then layers of representation, with the daguerreotype capturing the actress who is then replicated across these cards. Curator: Precisely! The layering reinforces this. This highlights a critical point regarding photography itself: the creation of reality through artifice and representation. Editor: This was very helpful; I had not considered the performance aspect that relates so much to the idea behind these trading cards. Curator: Indeed, by analyzing visual clues, one can peel back the layers of intention and impact.