Edith Craska, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891
allenginter
themetropolitanmuseumofart
drawing, print
photo of handprinted image
drawing
toned paper
light pencil work
pencil sketch
charcoal drawing
possibly oil pastel
pencil drawing
underpainting
men
watercolour illustration
watercolor
This is a trade card from the "Actors and Actresses" series, produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights cigarettes. It depicts actress Edith Craska in a theatrical pose, holding a bow and arrow, likely referencing her role in a play. This card, part of a larger series, is a fascinating example of how early marketing used popular culture to promote products. The image itself is a sepia-toned photograph, typical of the late 19th century, and the card is an example of the "carte de visite" format, a popular method of distributing photographs during that time. The Metropolitan Museum of Art houses this small but significant piece of theatrical and advertising history.
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