Mlle. Le Brun, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This photograph of Mlle. Le Brun was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Produced in the late 19th century, this belongs to a series of collectible cards featuring actresses. The image presents Le Brun in what was likely considered an exotic pose, wearing a kimono and holding a fan, referencing Japanese aesthetics that were fashionable at the time. Such images reflect both a cultural fascination with the "Orient" and the commercial interests of the company. Tobacco companies often used imagery that appealed to consumer fantasies, and this exoticized portrayal of an actress served that purpose. These cards were not high art, but mass-produced commercial items intended to boost sales. To better understand this image, one would need to look into the history of advertising, the cultural appropriation of Japanese imagery in the West, and the role of women in advertising at the time. The meaning of this photograph lies in its social and institutional context.