Mlle. Amzi, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

Curator: Here we have "Mlle. Amzi, from the Actors and Actresses series" produced between 1890 and 1895 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. It's currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This piece served as promotional material for Duke Cigarettes. Editor: What strikes me immediately is this sepia-toned, almost dreamlike quality. It feels both intimate and distant, like peering into a memory, or maybe a faded photograph from a beloved but forgotten album. Curator: Yes, and this piece is particularly interesting when considering advertising from the period, where cultural fascinations like Japonisme start permeating commercial art. Notice the references to ukiyo-e in the figure's pose and the flattened perspective, even though it’s photography. Editor: Oh, definitely! There's a distinct theatricality about her stance too—it's hard to ignore the feeling that she's gesturing towards something just outside the frame. And her clothing... it whispers stories of performance and identity, doesn't it? Is she inviting us into her world, or is this a carefully constructed persona? Curator: I think it's very much a construction. Cigarette cards, and similar items of the era, helped shape public perceptions of actresses and female performers. The cards functioned within a much larger conversation regarding female visibility, public versus private, and, of course, commodification. This photo isn't just a portrait; it is actively creating a certain kind of celebrity. Editor: I'm wondering if Mlle. Amzi herself had much agency in this process. What were her own desires and ambitions beyond this image? So much is unspoken. Also, I want to talk about her expression...it seems both inviting and distant! Curator: That ambiguity is key, and a direct product of the gaze constructed at the time. We see it reflecting anxieties of gender and performance tied into societal roles for women. The use of a photograph also provided a sense of realism and intimacy while keeping her distant in status. Editor: It makes me think about how even promotional images can carry complex narratives about identity, gender, and the price of fame. Looking at it now, I think it whispers secrets of bygone eras but screams about how we still consume imagery and construct personas. Curator: Absolutely. These objects are very simple on their surface, but rich when it comes to analyzing the construction of identity, aspiration, and the commodification of image, especially for women during this time. Editor: Right, now, having peered a little deeper, I see this little cigarette card not just as an old ad but as a complex document of culture and consumption.