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

This card featuring Marie Burroughs comes from the Actors and Actresses series, produced around 1900 by Duke Sons & Co. as a promotional item for Duke Cigarettes. The sepia tone lends the card a warm, nostalgic quality, focusing attention on the formal structure of the portrait. The composition is simple: a profile view, tightly framed, emphasizes the contours of Burroughs' face and neck. The artist uses soft, diffused light to create gentle gradations, highlighting the texture of her hair and the delicate fabric of her garment. This formal approach allows us to see the image not merely as a representation of a person, but as a study in form and light. The image also prompts a deeper consideration of the relationship between art, commerce, and celebrity culture at the turn of the century. The card’s function as advertisement underscores how images can operate within a broader semiotic system, encoding cultural values and shaping perceptions. Even in its modest scale, the card challenges us to reflect on the cultural codes that governed representation and reception during this period.