Lydia Yeamana, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This card, from the Actors and Actresses series, was printed by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. It's a modest thing, a simple photographic print on card stock. These cards, like so many of the ephemera of the late 19th century, were produced on an industrial scale, reflecting the growing power of consumer culture. What's interesting is the way that photography, still a relatively new medium at the time, was being harnessed to promote mass consumption. The image of Lydia Yeamans, a popular performer, becomes a commodity itself, distributed with cigarettes and meant to encourage brand loyalty. Consider the labor involved: from the photographers and printers to the factory workers who assembled the cigarettes and inserted these cards. It speaks to the complex relationship between art, entertainment, and the burgeoning capitalist system. We tend to think of art as something separate from everyday life, but here, it's woven directly into the fabric of commerce.