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

This small card from a series of actors and actresses was printed by Allen & Ginter, a cigarette company, in the United States in the late 19th century. It offers us a glimpse into the world of popular entertainment and the evolving role of women in society. The card depicts Miss Renwic, a stage performer, in costume, posed in front of what looks like a cage. Tobacco companies used such cards as collectable inserts in cigarette packs, a marketing strategy to promote their brands and appeal to a wide audience. These cards often featured idealized images of women, reinforcing societal expectations and norms. But the representation of actresses also provided a space for women to gain public recognition. Historians use a wide range of resources—theater programs, census data, newspaper articles, and advertisements—to understand the social dynamics of the time. We can examine the ways in which art both reflects and shapes cultural values, and how institutions like the entertainment industry and the tobacco industry intersect to produce meaning.