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

This small card depicting Ada Mack comes from a series of actors and actresses, made in the late 19th century by the American firm Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards speak to the growing commercialization of leisure and the rise of celebrity culture in the United States. The image creates meaning through visual codes: Mack’s fashionable dress and coquettish pose construct her as a desirable figure. The company Allen & Ginter was based in Richmond, Virginia, and it's interesting to note how the city was trying to rebrand itself after the Civil War. By associating their product with popular figures like Mack, the company was attempting to create a sense of glamour and sophistication around their brand, appealing to a new consumer base. To fully understand this artwork, one could research the history of tobacco advertising, the social status of actors and actresses, and the cultural values of the Gilded Age. In doing so, we begin to see how art is always embedded in specific social and institutional contexts.