Card Number 137, Lydia Thompson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: Here we have a portrait card of Lydia Thompson from the 1880s, created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of an Actors and Actresses series promoting Cross Cut Cigarettes. It combines photography and printmaking techniques, which is quite fascinating. What do you see in this piece beyond a simple advertisement? Curator: Well, let's think about the materiality first. This isn't just a portrait; it's a commodity. Consider the labor involved in its production: from the photography studio to the printing press, the workers packaging cigarettes and inserting these cards. What does this say about the value assigned to art versus everyday consumer goods at the time? Editor: So, you’re focusing on the means of production, that art is created in labor, that the workers are doing something to produce both the image and sell a product. Is that a fair assessment? Curator: Precisely! This little card blurs the boundaries between high art and disposable advertising. Thompson was a celebrity; her image becomes another ingredient, almost a raw material, in the cigarette manufacturing process. What is the value then of Ms. Thompson to this card? Does her celebrity add any tangible value? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. It shifts the focus from her individual portrayal to how her image is being used as a tool to sell something. A physical item used for sale. It's kind of unsettling when you look at it that way. Curator: Exactly. This card, intended for mass consumption, raises questions about labor, value, and the evolving relationship between art, celebrity, and commerce. Editor: I never considered it that way. It’s given me a lot to consider. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure. Looking closely at the materials and means of production often reveals unexpected insights.