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

This card featuring actress Virginia Tracy was printed by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. While it may not be a traditional artwork, its photographic process and mass production tell us a lot about the culture of the time. This card wasn't created through traditional artistic means but instead relies on photography and industrial printing. Think about the layers of labor involved: from the photographers and printers to the factory workers producing the cigarettes. The smooth, consistent surface of the card is a direct result of industrial processes, a far cry from the handmade textures we often associate with art. The image of Virginia Tracy, carefully posed and presented, was intended to associate glamour with the consumption of cigarettes. These cards were inexpensive to produce, designed for mass distribution, and tied to a culture of consumption. Looking at this card, we can appreciate how everyday objects can reflect broader social and economic forces, blurring the lines between art, advertising, and everyday life.