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

Editor: Here we have a photographic print dating back to 1890, part of the "Actresses" series by Kinney Brothers. The subject is Effie Snyder. There’s a classical feel, almost Grecian, with her draped clothing and the urn. It all seems so staged and…dreamy. What do you make of it? Curator: Dreamy is a great word. For me, it conjures a nostalgic echo. I sense Japonisme influence in its composition. It's not just a photograph, is it? It’s a curated image, crafting a specific impression of femininity. That urn and draping - like an elaborate stage prop? Do you think this attempt at grandeur distracts from Effie herself, perhaps? Editor: A little, yes. I get the sense that Kinney Brothers wanted to create an idealized image, fitting a certain aesthetic. I wonder if Effie had much say in how she was portrayed? Curator: Exactly. Who controlled the narrative here? And notice how this portrait, seemingly timeless in its classicism, was used to sell...cigarettes. This strange marriage reveals how cultural aspiration became entangled with commercial promotion. So, is it art? Is it advertising? Is it something else entirely? Editor: It's interesting to consider this image in a context larger than a single purpose. The blending of commercial and artistic intentions, or, you could say it is hard to draw the line, really gets you thinking about the image-making back then, and today, too. Curator: Yes, precisely! It’s all about the layers, isn’t it? It encourages us to examine everything a bit more closely, with the eye of a detective.