Emily Bancker, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a promotional card of Emily Bancker, from the Actors and Actresses series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, made in the United States in the late nineteenth century. The card presents a portrait of the actress in fashionable dress, seated in an ornate wicker chair. These cards were produced during a time of rapid industrialization and urbanization in America, as new consumer products and marketing strategies emerged. Tobacco companies like Allen & Ginter sought to promote their brands through collectible cards featuring popular actresses, athletes, and other celebrities. The cards served as a form of advertising, but they also reflected the growing interest in celebrity culture and the rise of mass media. The image participates in a broader cultural phenomenon of using imagery to associate products with aspirational figures and lifestyles. To understand this card, it is useful to examine advertising history, the history of celebrity culture, and the social and economic conditions of the Gilded Age. Art history can help us contextualize the cultural values that shape the perception and reception of art.