Card Number 165, Emma Corson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 165, Emma Corson, from the Actors and Actresses series, was issued by Duke Sons & Co. around 1900 to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. The sepia tone creates a nostalgic aesthetic, typical of the period, yet the composition is striking. Emma Corson is posed in a theatrical manner, holding a star-tipped staff, with the backdrop blurring into an ambiguous natural setting. The sepia tone unifies the figure and background, creating a cohesive visual field where the actress seems to emerge directly from the scene. Corson's placement is meticulously arranged to draw the viewer's gaze across the frame, from her figure to the cigarette advertisement. The overall effect is one of subtle depth and carefully calibrated visual signals. The use of photography in mass-produced ephemera like cigarette cards reflects broader shifts in visual culture at the turn of the century. The formal qualities of this card, while seemingly simple, engage with complex dynamics of representation, celebrity, and commercialism that continue to resonate today.