Josie Hall, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card, part of the Actors and Actresses series by Allen & Ginter, presents a sepia-toned profile of Josie Hall. Its size immediately suggests intimacy, an artifact meant for personal possession. The portrait is meticulously framed, emphasizing Hall’s face, neck, and shoulders. Note how the composition adheres to a strong profile view, a traditional format for portraiture that evokes classical coins or cameos. However, this classicism is undermined by its use as commercial advertising, offering a semiotic clash between art and commodity. Consider the interplay between public identity and private consumption, made visible through the mass production of celebrity images. The sepia tones flatten the image, reducing it to essential lines and shapes. This allows us to focus on how Hall’s features and hairstyle, typical of late 19th century beauty standards, are being presented as not just personal attributes, but as signs that can be consumed and emulated.