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

Curator: What a compelling image. This is a photographic print of Blanche Walsh from around 1890. It comes from the "Actresses" series (N245), published by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. It’s currently part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection here in New York. Editor: My immediate impression is of dreamy grace, almost an ethereal quality. The light is so soft, and she has such an serene look, posed in that fancy chair with her hands behind her head... the scene seems otherworldly. Curator: It's interesting you say that because the printing technique employed evokes pictorialism with perhaps even an impressionistic flair; softly focusing the image for a more emotive response. Commercial imagery, like this series, really influenced photographic portraiture in the late 19th century, promoting popular notions of beauty and celebrity culture. Editor: Absolutely! The focus on Blanche Walsh’s expression seems so deliberate, she's meant to be more than just a pretty face promoting cigarettes. I’m also struck by her relaxed posture. There’s something daring about her casually raised arms; It's very uncommon for photographs during this period, the whole photograph communicates self-possession and power. It almost disrupts conventional notions of Victorian femininity. Curator: Precisely. Advertising cards often showcased idealized roles or celebrated success, associating products with a desirable lifestyle. To be fair though, this stance communicates status; The chair with all the detail shows her sophistication and further reinforces the theatrical profession. Editor: Yet even in such a posed image, there’s a vulnerability there. The gentle lighting, the way her hair frames her face, it all evokes tenderness; her gentle gaze evokes purity. Perhaps this speaks to a certain ambivalence of women and femininity during this period of shifting roles. Curator: It does highlight the complex role of actresses at this time. Considered scandalous by some but undeniably captivating in their artistic skill. Her relaxed posture adds to the intrigue, seemingly saying "I am successful and talented", disrupting traditional expectations, indeed. Editor: Examining this promotional image has highlighted so much more than the selling of cigarettes; it encapsulates a time of changing roles and enduring ideals. Curator: I agree, these sorts of works become very telling artefacts, and allow one to analyze the historical contexts of gender roles in the Victorian era. They showcase the way celebrities impacted art and influenced broader cultural norms.