[Actress in profile wearing hat decorated with natural elements], from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This small card, made by W. Duke, Sons & Co., used photography and industrial printing techniques, and was distributed with Duke Cigarettes. It is one of many in the series 'Actors and Actresses'. Printed on thin card stock, the image presents an actress in profile wearing a hat festooned with what appears to be natural elements, perhaps flowers and leaves. The sepia tone and soft focus give it a nostalgic air, typical of the period, yet its mass-produced nature places it firmly within the burgeoning consumer culture of the late 19th century. The card represents a confluence of art, advertising, and industry. Photography, a relatively new technology at the time, was combined with printing techniques to create a collectible item intended to promote the consumption of cigarettes. This illustrates how artistic and craft processes were being integrated into the machinery of capitalism, blurring the lines between art, commerce, and popular culture. The image invites us to consider how the industrial revolution changed our understanding of art. By incorporating these objects in museum collections, we are acknowledging that cultural value can be found in unexpected places.