Marie Jansen, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This is a photograph of Marie Jansen, an actress, produced at the end of the 19th century by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes. The image is printed on a small card, a chromolithograph - a popular, inexpensive medium at the time. Think of it as early advertising. The process involved transferring an image onto a series of lithographic stones, one for each color, and then printing them in succession. It was a means of mass production, creating images for a mass audience. The card’s purpose - to sell cigarettes - speaks volumes about the era's burgeoning consumer culture. By associating their product with a popular actress, Duke Cigarettes aimed to elevate their brand. The mass production of inexpensive images made art accessible, but also deeply intertwined with commerce. It blurred the lines between art, advertising, and the everyday, reflecting a society increasingly driven by consumption and mass media.