Flora Walsh, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-8) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Duke Cigarettes 1890 - 1895

This small card, made around 1900 by W. Duke, Sons & Co., is a photographic print promoting Duke Cigarettes. It features Flora Walsh, an actress, as part of a series linking celebrity culture with mass-produced consumer goods. The card's sepia tone and the soft focus of the photograph lend it a nostalgic, almost romantic quality. But the image's true impact lies in its purpose: to sell cigarettes. The rise of photography coincided with industrial advancements, allowing for mass production and distribution of images like this. The act of printing and distributing these cards involved the labor of photographers, printers, and factory workers, all contributing to a complex system of production and consumption. The card represents a shift in how art and culture were disseminated, moving away from unique, handcrafted objects toward mass-produced commodities. Examining the materials and processes behind this seemingly simple card reveals the intricate relationship between art, industry, and the burgeoning culture of celebrity.