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

This is Theresa Vaughn, from the Actresses series (N245), a photograph issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards emerged in a cultural moment when the burgeoning advertising industry capitalized on celebrity culture. Vaughn, a stage actress, is pictured here embodying a romantic vision of femininity: petite, fair skinned, and adorned in theatrical costume. These cards were collected and traded, creating a kind of social currency around the images of women. What does it mean to turn the images of women into commodities? These cards reflect the complex intersection of entertainment, consumerism, and gender roles in late 19th-century America. They provide insight into the construction and circulation of celebrity and femininity, capturing a moment in which identities were carefully crafted and consumed. Ultimately, this small card invites us to consider how images shape our understanding of identity and desire.