Miss Jackson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

This small card, dating from around 1880, was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes. It belongs to a series featuring actors and actresses, and here we see a performer known as Miss Jackson. During this period, mass media played a crucial role in shaping cultural perceptions of gender and performance. As commercial cards like these gained popularity, the representation of women, particularly actresses, became both more widespread and complex. The card’s design exoticizes Miss Jackson’s image, framing her with lush vegetation and suggestive attire. This image can be interpreted through the lens of the male gaze, where women are portrayed as objects of visual pleasure. At the same time, Miss Jackson’s confident pose and direct gaze challenge the traditional Victorian ideals of female modesty and domesticity. Her participation in the theater, a public and often contested space for women, suggests a negotiation of identity and agency. This card is a window into the cultural and societal values of the time, revealing prevailing attitudes towards women, entertainment, and the burgeoning advertising industry.