Actress holding tall pointed staff, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

This sepia-toned photograph is part of the Actors and Actresses series created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as promotional material for Cross Cut Cigarettes. The actress is centrally positioned, posed in costume beside a classical column, a visual motif that lends her an aura of timelessness. The photograph is striking in its use of verticality, emphasized by the tall pointed staff held by the actress. This line contrasts with the rounded forms of the column and her figure. Her theatrical attire, combined with the cigarette brand's lettering at the top, merges the worlds of performance, commerce, and classical allusion. The use of photography to create and disseminate images speaks to the rise of consumer culture. The actress becomes a sign, a brand ambassador who signifies not just artistic talent but also commodity appeal. The photograph's interplay of form and content invites us to consider how images function within cultural and economic systems.