Card Number 615, Edith Merrell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Curator: This is card number 615 from the Actors and Actresses series, dating back to the 1880s, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote their Cross Cut Cigarettes. It features Edith Merrell and combines photography and print techniques in its production. Editor: My initial reaction is a feeling of faded glamour. There's a softness to the image, a languid pose... a sense of idealized beauty of the time. Curator: The use of albumen print is very typical for this period, as it was crucial for mass production of card photos. The Duke company were pioneers of tobacco cards, understanding the powerful connection between consumerism and celebrity culture. Editor: I see echoes of classical reclining figures in that pose, particularly that supported elbow, even though it’s transposed into a modern context with her dress and expression. Was the company intentionally invoking those associations? Curator: Very possibly! The cigarette cards sought to add allure to the brand by associating them with popular actresses like Merrell. Celebrity portraits granted this burgeoning tobacco company legitimacy but also appealed to the consumer, especially young male ones. Editor: So Merrell wasn't just selling a product, she was selling an ideal… one of sophistication and even daring, to some extent. Do you see connections between this and imagery we’re familiar with now? Curator: Absolutely! Look at the rise of the ‘influencer’ now, it parallels so much with this era, especially celebrity endorsements. It brings to light interesting social dynamics: this card photo had reach far and beyond galleries, art collections and the art elites. It democratised exposure to images but also instrumentalised visual representation for commerce. Editor: Exactly. It brings us to the interesting cross currents of commerce and art – or “image.” As this faded print bears its story, it becomes a multi-layered icon. The photo is not merely selling cigarettes, but weaving dreams around them, around the individual holding it in their hands! Curator: I think that's an important point. The humble cigarette card illuminates a wider history of promotional imagery, celebrity culture, and even social mobility in an era undergoing massive change. Editor: Well, it's made me consider the layers of representation—how even ephemeral, commercial objects can accrue cultural significance and unlock understanding through iconic references.