Card Number 708, Ada Webb, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-3) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This card from the Actors and Actresses series was produced around the turn of the century by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. The sepia tones and small scale contribute to an intimate viewing experience. What strikes me most is the stark juxtaposition between Ada Webb's formal presentation and the commercial context in which it exists. Her figure, adorned in what appears to be stage attire, is set against a painted backdrop of a tumultuous sea. The soft light, coupled with her serene gaze, contrasts sharply with the overt textual assertion that 'Cross-Cut Cigarettes Are The Best'. This tension invites us to question the nature of representation itself. Here, Ada Webb is transformed into a signifier—a visual element designed to evoke desire and aspiration. She becomes a symbol of beauty and success, commodified and circulated within the burgeoning consumer culture of the time. The overall structure suggests a complex interplay between art, commerce, and identity.