Card Number 244, Dupree, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-2) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

"Card Number 244, Dupree" was made by W. Duke, Sons & Co., as part of the "Actors and Actresses" series to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes in the late 19th century. These cards, distributed with tobacco products, offer a glimpse into the cultural values of the Gilded Age. The image presents an actress named Dupree in a bathing costume, standing against a painted backdrop. This choice of subject reflects both the rising popularity of actresses and the increasing visibility of women in public life during this period. While the card seems innocuous, it subtly engages with the era's complex negotiations around gender, performance, and the commodification of the female image. The actress’s pose and attire are carefully curated, and toe the line between modesty and allure, reflecting the era’s conflicting expectations of women. We can look at this portrait as a reflection of how entertainment was intertwined with commerce, and how images of women were used to sell products, encapsulating the tensions between representation, identity, and consumer culture.