Card Number 157, Jarbeau, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This card, number 157 in a series by Duke Sons & Co., was designed to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes, presenting the actress Jarbeau in a staged setting. The sepia tones give the image a nostalgic feel, highlighting the textures of her ornate kimono and the painted backdrop. Structurally, the composition divides the image into distinct zones. Jarbeau dominates the left with her theatrical pose, while the right is anchored by the bold text advertising cigarettes. The linear elements of the floral patterns on her kimono create a visual rhythm, contrasting with the geometric precision of the advertising text. The use of cultural symbols here, like the fan and kimono, engage in a complex interplay between authenticity and representation. The artwork functions as a semiotic system, where elements of costume and staging act as signs, evoking orientalist fantasies that were common at the time. Note how the composition and arrangement of elements creates a dialogue between commerce, identity, and cultural appropriation. This tension reveals the fluid and constructed nature of meaning in art.