[Actress reclining on furs], from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

Curator: Isn’t she luminous? We're looking at "[Actress reclining on furs]," one in a series of prints issued between 1890 and 1895 by W. Duke, Sons & Co., as a promotional item for Duke Cigarettes. Editor: She looks utterly peaceful, doesn't she? Like a pre-Raphaelite daydreamer. There’s this soft, golden light… it almost feels reverential, despite her slightly suggestive pose on all that fur. It's a total vibe of decadent relaxation. Curator: Exactly. The "erotic-art" tag might raise some eyebrows today, but context is key. These images were widely distributed, and, importantly, highly collectible. The actress becomes both an aspirational figure and an accessible image. Consider how celebrity portraits then functioned: to promote the actress, of course, but also the very *idea* of being seen. Editor: Right, there's definitely something fascinating in how overtly constructed this whole scene feels, yet at the same time she embodies the essence of a genuine, undisturbed nap. And the cigarette company being linked? The subtext is wild—beauty, fame, leisure, and this barely-concealed invitation... quite intoxicating. Curator: The symbolism's subtle but strong. Think of the fur, a classic signifier of wealth and status, combined with her loose pose. The image sells a lifestyle, one associated with freedom, comfort, even rebellion. Remember that stage actresses had a reputation at this time; they challenged Victorian conventions. Editor: I like thinking about what it meant to own one of these back then, this small print. It must've felt deliciously risqué to keep something like this tucked away somewhere. It kind of flips the idea of the voyeur on its head, right? Like she’s asleep but very knowingly being observed. Curator: Precisely. What strikes me is this print acting as a physical link to a dream. By possessing such image, its viewers become closer to fame and maybe fortune… to this untouchable celebrity icon. Editor: Yes! It’s more about yearning and accessing fantasy than something literal. Curator: Fascinating, to think an item made to encourage cigarette sales also carries an echo of shifting cultural ideas. Editor: A surprising object. I like what its delicate seduction still sparks today!