Card Number 542, Mrs. James Brown Potter, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-7) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1880s

Curator: I find the subtle tonal range fascinating—such fine gradations in this sepia portrait. Editor: And what portrait is that exactly? Curator: We are looking at "Card Number 542, Mrs. James Brown Potter," part of the "Actors and Actresses" series issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. in the 1880s, right when cigarette cards were exploding in popularity. It's currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: The subject almost seems caught in a moment of wistful reflection. The print quality, though aged, has a certain allure, doesn't it? It also clearly indicates how such images participated in popularizing celebrities of the age. Curator: Exactly. It's not just a portrait; it’s industrial production meeting the glamour of the stage. These cards were meant to stiffen cigarette packs, yes, but they also acted as miniature publicity vehicles and played a vital role in creating celebrity culture, reaching a broad audience beyond traditional theater-goers. Editor: I'm intrigued by the material conditions: cheap cardstock, mass printing. We're seeing a transformation of image distribution thanks to these mass produced cigarette cards. Who was Mrs. James Brown Potter anyway? Curator: She was a famous American actress. By placing her image on a widely circulated commercial product, Duke Cigarettes not only promoted their brand but also connected it with ideals of beauty, talent, and success, subtly equating their product with those attributes. It’s a shrewd form of advertising. Editor: Certainly a smart and calculated form of consumer engagement. Seeing this image made through a reproductive technology from this period alongside marketing claims is also helpful for better understanding social histories and how social values become attached to goods, figures, or practices. Curator: Precisely, these small cards were incredibly effective at weaving desires into the everyday habits of the populace. It's not just art; it's material culture shaping and reflecting societal values. Editor: Yes, indeed. I see so much to unpack here in this small print that reflects broader social practices and relations.