Pauline Hall, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This is Pauline Hall, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes, made by Goodwin & Company. These cards were a product of their time, reflecting the burgeoning celebrity culture and the commercial use of images. As a popular actress, Hall was a public figure, and her image was used to sell a product, embedding her within the capitalist culture of the late 19th century. She stands with a confident pose, hand on her hip, directly confronting the viewer. She is wearing a costume that challenges the typical feminine ideals of the period. It presents a nuanced perspective on gender and performance. The card invites us to consider the complex intersections of identity, commercialism, and representation in the late 19th century. It prompts us to think about the ways in which individuals, particularly women, navigated the public sphere. How did they manage their own image amidst societal expectations and commercial interests?