Ethel Selwyn, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

Editor: This is a printed portrait of Ethel Selwyn, part of the “Actresses” series from 1890, distributed by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. I'm struck by the contrast between the refined elegance of her pose and the commercial nature of its production. How do we reconcile those two elements? Curator: That's a crucial point to consider. These portraits, while seemingly straightforward, are deeply embedded in the socio-political fabric of their time. We must think about the commodification of women's images and the burgeoning advertising industry. What does it mean to portray an actress, someone who embodies different roles, to sell cigarettes? How might Ethel Selwyn’s identity as a performer be both exploited and celebrated in this context? Editor: It feels like a transaction where her fame is being used to normalize and even glamorize smoking. Curator: Precisely. These images were circulated widely, shaping public perceptions not only of actresses like Ethel Selwyn, but also of ideals of femininity and consumer culture. Consider also the power dynamics inherent in the gaze – who is consuming this image, and what desires are being projected onto Ethel Selwyn? How might her agency, as a woman in the 1890s, be negotiated within these constraints? Editor: It is fascinating how a small image carries so much social weight! Curator: Absolutely. By interrogating the relationship between art, commerce, and identity, we uncover a rich and often uncomfortable history of representation. Looking at these portraits demands we engage in a broader dialogue about the female figure as spectacle, as commodity, and, potentially, as an active agent in shaping her own image. Editor: I’ll definitely look at trading cards differently going forward! Thank you.