Card Number 136, Irene Varonia, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

This tiny card, made around 1900 by W. Duke Sons & Co., is from a series of promotional cigarette cards depicting actresses. These cards, printed using industrialized techniques, reveal much about the period's culture and economy. The photographic image of Irene Varonia is mounted on card stock. This was a cost-effective method for mass production. These cards were essentially miniature advertisements, cheaply produced and distributed to promote Duke's Cameo Cigarettes. They reflect the rise of consumer culture and the use of celebrity endorsements to drive sales. Consider the labor involved: from the tobacco fields to the factories printing these cards. While seemingly trivial, the card encapsulates the dynamics of labor, leisure, and the burgeoning advertising industry of the time. It challenges the traditional art historical narrative by highlighting the artistry embedded in everyday, mass-produced items, revealing the complex interplay between commercialism, craftsmanship, and cultural values.