Annie Somerville, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a photographic trade card, probably made in the 1880s by Allen & Ginter, for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Its surface is paper, sensitized with chemicals to capture an image, then mounted on card stock. But the real interest here is not the photograph itself, but the industry that it served. This card of Annie Somerville, from the Actors and Actresses series, was one of many inserted in cigarette packs as a promotional tool. These images, though seemingly innocuous, were a key part of the marketing strategy, designed to entice consumers with collectible sets of images. The mass production of these cards relied on both photographic and printing technologies, indicative of industrialized capitalism. This all speaks to the connection between artistic mediums and the machinery of mass consumption. The photograph isn't just an image, it's a token in a larger system of labor, advertising, and desire. By recognizing this, we move beyond surface appearances to a deeper understanding of the photograph's cultural significance.