Card Number 12, Miss Dupree, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-1) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes 1880s

Card Number 12, Miss Dupree, was created by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of the Actors and Actresses series to promote Cross Cut Cigarettes. These cards emerged during a time when the burgeoning advertising industry capitalized on celebrity culture, but they also operated in a very specific way in relationship to women. Often these actresses embodied ideals of feminine beauty and grace that were both celebrated and restrictive. Miss Dupree, with her delicate parasol and demure gaze, seems to be cast in this mold. But I wonder, what was it like to be her, performing femininity for the camera's gaze, knowing that your image would be mass-produced and consumed by strangers? Did she feel empowered or exploited? We can only speculate about her personal experience, but we can certainly see how this image reflects the complex dynamics of gender, representation, and commerce in the late 19th century.