Gillet, Opera Comique, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This trade card featuring Gillet, of the Opéra-Comique, was produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The late 19th century saw a surge in advertising through collectible cards, inserted into cigarette packs. The "Actors and Actresses" series reflects the burgeoning celebrity culture of the time, linking the allure of the stage with the consumption of tobacco. The Opéra-Comique in France was a significant cultural institution, accessible to a broad public, and associated with both artistic innovation and social commentary. This card, therefore, attempts to capture the cultural capital of the Opera, transferring it to the Virginia Brights brand. The choice of actresses as subjects also reveals the increasing visibility and influence of women in the public sphere, albeit framed within a commercial context. To fully understand this card, we can delve into archives of advertising history, theatre programs, and social studies to reveal the complex interplay between commerce, culture, and gender in late 19th-century America and France.