Plate 26, from the Fans of the Period series (N7) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

This small chromolithograph was produced by Allen and Ginter, a cigarette manufacturer based in Richmond, Virginia, as part of a series called "Fans of the Period." These cards were inserted into cigarette packs as a marketing strategy, capitalizing on the popularity of collecting and trading cards in the late 19th century. The image presents an idealized vision of feminine elegance, referencing historical styles of dress and accessories. It is also indicative of the growing consumer culture of the Gilded Age in the United States. The fan, the hat, and the cane all speak to the trappings of elite society, but the image is not without its contradictions. Allen and Ginter's commercial success was built on tobacco farming, a practice which relied on enslaved labour. By the time this image was produced, the institution of slavery was outlawed, but its legacy continued to shape economic and racial inequalities. To better understand the context of this image, we might turn to sources such as business archives, social histories, and critical studies of advertising and visual culture.