Card Number 127, Lillian Russell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N145-4) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Cameo Cigarettes 1880s

Editor: Here we have "Card Number 127, Lillian Russell," a photographic print from the 1880s issued by Duke Sons & Co. as a promotional item. It has that wonderful sepia tone common to aged paper. It’s quite striking, almost like a vintage movie still. What grabs your attention most about this piece? Curator: Immediately, the connection to popular culture and consumerism is apparent. These cards, tucked into cigarette packs, were less about art and more about marketing, creating desire. It's interesting how they used celebrities like Lillian Russell to associate glamour and aspiration with their product. Editor: So, it’s less about the artistry of the photograph and more about its societal role? Curator: Exactly. The image itself adheres to established portrait conventions, but the context—its distribution method, its purpose—completely reframes its meaning. How did images like these contribute to the cult of celebrity at the time, and how did they function within the expanding consumer culture? Editor: It's a little disturbing to think about someone's image being used just to sell cigarettes. Did Russell have any say in this? Curator: That's the core of it. These images become commodities themselves, divorced from the subject's control. We should consider labor laws and how that related to consumer culture. Who benefits and who is being exploited by it? Editor: So, looking at this card isn't just about admiring a portrait; it’s about dissecting the social and economic landscape of the late 19th century. Curator: Precisely. It is a great snapshot of marketing and media! We should always keep in mind its social context when viewing any work of art. Editor: I never considered that the photograph of Russell as a collectible piece of advertisement of tobacco usage opens a whole new can of worms. This was extremely informative. Thank you!