Carrie Rogers, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This photograph of Carrie Rogers was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, as one of a series of collectible cards promoting Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The image is interesting for what it tells us about the cultural landscape of late 19th-century America. The rise of commercial photography coincided with an increasing fascination with celebrity, and figures like Carrie Rogers, an actress, became powerful symbols of aspiration and desire. Tobacco companies understood this well. By associating their products with popular performers, they tapped into a growing culture of consumerism and spectacle. These cards were essentially proto-advertisements, blurring the lines between art, entertainment, and commerce. The photograph's style and composition also reflect the era's aesthetic values. To truly understand such an artifact, historians consult a wide range of sources, including theater reviews, advertisements, and social commentaries. By piecing together these fragments, we can gain a richer understanding of the image, not just as a portrait, but as a window into a complex and evolving society.