Card Number 339, Lillian Grubb, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Here's a description of "Card Number 339, Lillian Grubb, from the Actors and Actresses series," produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around 1888 as a promotional item for Cross Cut Cigarettes. These cards emerged in an era defined by industrial expansion, rising consumerism, and evolving gender roles. Lillian Grubb, an actress, becomes a commodity, her image used to sell cigarettes. The card participates in the objectification of women, typical of advertising at the time. Yet, Grubb was also a performer, actively shaping her own identity. Consider the power dynamics at play: Grubb's livelihood depended on public image and the male gaze. These cards reflect how society commodified female performers, yet they also provided a platform, however limited, for women to gain visibility and recognition. The image captures a moment in which commerce, entertainment, and identity converge, revealing complex negotiations of gender and representation in the late 19th century.