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

This is a trade card of Lotta, an actress, printed by Allen and Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, sometime in the late 19th century. These cards, small and mass-produced, offer a glimpse into the burgeoning world of celebrity and consumer culture in America. The image of Lotta, likely a stage persona, is carefully constructed. Her costume, a mix of rural charm and theatrical flair, speaks to the way performers cultivated a public image. The association with cigarettes, a new and fashionable product, further situates her within a landscape of aspiration and desire. Cards like these were not simply promotional items. They were collected, traded, and pasted into albums, becoming part of a wider culture of collecting that was both commercial and social. To understand their significance, we need to consider the rise of mass media, the changing role of women in public life, and the social history of smoking. Looking at old theater programs, census records, and advertisements can tell us more about the world in which these cards circulated. The meaning of art like this resides in this rich intersection of social and institutional contexts.