Alice Turner, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: Here we have Alice Turner, from the Actors and Actresses series, printed between 1885 and 1891 by Allen & Ginter. It's a small, sepia-toned portrait that seems to be part drawing, part photograph. It's got this old-timey glamour, but also feels a little… anonymous, like she's been flattened into a type. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, a cigarette card. These were truly ubiquitous! What I find striking is the sheer condensation of image, aspiration, and marketing. Alice Turner, whoever she was, becomes a symbol instantly consumed with a Virginia Brights cigarette. Aspirational in its portrayal of a performer and clever in its design: the image, crisp enough to convey detail yet soft enough to lend an air of dreamy theatricality. Did they think of it as art, though? That’s another matter entirely, isn’t it? Editor: Definitely makes you wonder about the line between art and advertising. It’s interesting how something meant to be so disposable can become this little window into a past era. So you find the blend of functionality and style engaging, while for me that same fact renders her flattened and anonymous. Curator: Indeed. Though think of those early movie stills; were they *meant* to capture a deeper truth, or simply promote the illusion? And weren't people excited by the "illusion" aspect and possibilities? It shows our desire to "see" and, ultimately, own that which inspires and, maybe, entertains. She might be a commodity, sure, but she’s *our* commodity for the price of a pack. Does this shed any light on her potential, or simply further darken it? Editor: That gives me a totally new perspective. Considering these cigarette cards as early publicity stills helps make the intention behind them pop! So much for her anoymity... Curator: Precisely! Always layers upon layers. What’s consumption without dreaming? What’s dreaming without images?