Mlle. Zuillos, Paris, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: This is a promotional cigarette card, "Mlle. Zuillos, Paris," dating from between 1885 and 1891. It is from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, by Allen & Ginter. It looks like a sepia-toned photograph. It's delicate and almost feels like a faded memory. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Ah, these cigarette cards! I find them little portals to the past, tiny time capsules. Mlle. Zuillos, bathed in sepia tones, almost whispers secrets of the Parisian stage, doesn't she? This was an era when advertising met art, and everyday objects became miniature galleries. Does it strike you as somewhat romanticised, this image meant to entice cigarette smokers? Almost a reverie? Editor: It does, actually. The pearl accessories seem so out of place for cigarettes, but also strangely convincing. Where does the 'Ukiyo-e' theme fit in? Curator: That’s fascinating you noticed the Ukiyo-e tag! These cards, believe it or not, were sometimes influenced by the Japanese art form of Ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world." Imagine those Edo period woodblock prints traveling all the way to America and subtly shaping popular imagery! Maybe it’s in the stylized composition or perhaps in that evocative mood…what do you think? Do you see a connection to Ukiyo-e techniques in this? Editor: Now that you mention it, I see the echoes. I never would have connected that. Thanks, this puts a whole new spin on appreciating ephemera. Curator: Doesn't it? It shows you how even seemingly disposable objects can reflect a rich tapestry of cultural exchange. Just a tiny card that contains entire worlds if you let it!