Card Number 213, Sutherland, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This is Card Number 213, Sutherland, from the Actors and Actresses series, printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the late 19th century to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. The sepia tones and the actress's languid pose evoke a sense of nostalgic luxury. The composition divides into distinct planes: the dark background sharply contrasts with the actress's light dress and ruffled collar, drawing the eye immediately to her. The diagonal line of her reclining body introduces movement, preventing the image from feeling static. The semiotics of the advertisement are telling. Sutherland, the actress, is a signifier of elegance and sophistication. The cigarettes, though not explicitly depicted, are implied as a source of this elevated lifestyle. The image flattens the distinction between the performer and the product, suggesting that one can 'become' the other through consumption. This small card serves as a window into the desires and aspirations of the era, revealing how cultural values were packaged and sold. It reminds us that even the simplest images are constructs loaded with meaning.