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

Editor: This is a photograph, a print, and perhaps even a drawing. It’s titled “Miss East, from the Actors and Actresses series,” made between 1890 and 1895 by W. Duke, Sons & Co. The sepia tone gives it a somewhat dreamy and romantic quality, despite being promotional material. What stands out to you when you look at this image? Curator: Immediately, I'm drawn to the implications of the "Actors and Actresses series" itself. Cigarette cards, like this one, were not simply about selling tobacco. They were deeply enmeshed in the construction of celebrity and, crucially, idealized images of femininity during that era. Think about who "Miss East" likely was, the audience being targeted, and how her image was used to sell a product. Editor: So, you’re saying this card wasn't just innocent advertising. Curator: Exactly. These images circulated within a specific socio-political context, one where the objectification of women was rampant and tobacco companies actively shaped consumer desires and cultural norms. What does the image say about the standards of beauty and aspirations that were being promoted? Do you notice any details that point to her performative identity, the “actress” aspect? Editor: I see how her slightly theatrical pose and ornate dress might feed into that performative idea. It's interesting how something seemingly as simple as a cigarette card can reflect larger issues of gender and consumerism. Curator: It’s a microcosm of its time. It makes you wonder, what kind of power dynamic existed between W. Duke, Sons & Co., the celebrity figure of "Miss East", and the consumer, mediated by the very act of smoking. Consider it as a statement on both the public and private personas cultivated in that period, intertwined with commerce. Editor: This has definitely changed how I view this image. Thanks. Curator: And thank you. Thinking about it in these intersectional terms – of gender, commerce and celebrity - enriches our understanding and offers fresh insights.