Marie Burroughs, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This monochromatic card, "Marie Burroughs," was part of Allen & Ginter’s series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The sepia tone infuses the image with a soft, dreamlike quality. The actress, Marie Burroughs, is captured in a pose that’s both languid and theatrical, leaning against what appears to be a textured wall or backdrop. The composition employs a subtle tension between the artificiality of the staged setting and the apparent naturalness of Burroughs’ pose. The draping fabric and ornate details of her garment contrast with the simplicity of the backdrop. The use of a single color, sepia, unifies the disparate elements, creating a sense of harmony and balance. The photograph functions as a sign, not just of Burroughs' celebrity, but of the cultural values attached to glamour and performance. The textural nuances achieved through the photographic process invite a close examination of the surface, encouraging us to consider the mediation inherent in the act of representation itself. This small card becomes a stage, inviting us to contemplate the interplay between image, artifice, and the construction of identity.