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

This is a photographic print of Nellie Standish, part of the Actors and Actresses series, made for Virginia Brights Cigarettes by Allen & Ginter. Notice how the sepia tone and the tight crop flattens the image, giving it an abstract quality despite its representational subject. The composition centers on Standish's face in profile, with soft lighting that smoothes her features and gives a dreamlike quality. The texture of the paper, slightly rough, adds a tactile dimension that contrasts with the smooth photographic surface. The commercial nature of this work—a cigarette card—destabilizes the traditional artistic categories. The image is both a portrait and an advertisement, blurring the lines between art, commerce, and celebrity culture. The use of photography, a relatively new medium at the time, challenges established modes of representation. Ultimately, the piece invites us to reflect on the evolving role of art in a rapidly changing world.