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

This is a card featuring actress Geraldine Ulmer, made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. It’s a modest paper object, likely printed using lithography, a process that allowed for mass production. The card's original purpose was promotional. Tucked into cigarette packs, these cards were essentially advertisements, capitalizing on the popularity of celebrities like Ulmer. The very materiality of the card – cheap paper, mass-produced image – speaks to the burgeoning consumer culture of the time. These cards blurred the lines between art, commerce, and celebrity, creating a collectible frenzy that mirrored the broader shift towards mass consumption. Looking closely, you can see how this seemingly insignificant piece of paper reflects larger social issues of labor and consumption. The card depended on cheap materials and mass production, enabled by factory workers and the mechanisms of capitalism. It challenges us to consider how art is not just about aesthetics, but also about the ways in which it is made, distributed, and consumed.