Card 815, Maud Wentworth, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card was made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes as part of a series featuring actors and actresses. This one depicts Maud Wentworth. In the late 19th century, the rise of consumer culture saw an explosion of advertising, often capitalizing on popular figures. These cards, inserted into cigarette packs, served as collectibles and promotional tools. The fact that the photograph of a stage actress would be used to sell cigarettes speaks volumes about the public role of performance and celebrity in this period. The image itself, with Maud Wentworth gazing invitingly, speaks to the politics of imagery at the time, where beauty and fame were commodities. To fully understand this card, one might delve into theater history, advertising archives, and even the biographies of the actresses themselves. The card reminds us that art and culture are always shaped by the social conditions in which they are produced and consumed.