Mlle. Bucourt, Paris, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Curator: Looking at this image, I am immediately drawn into the somewhat elusive gaze of Mlle. Bucourt. Editor: It’s evocative, isn’t it? What we have here is a portrait from the "Actors and Actresses" series, issued between 1885 and 1891 for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. A small photographic print, mounted on card stock. It offers a glimpse into the popular culture of that time, specifically how actresses were being consumed as… commodities, essentially. Curator: Yes, and consumed not only for their artistic talent, but also for their symbolic representation. The details of her clothing—the elegant hat, the high collar—speak volumes. The flower detail, specifically, is reminiscent of classical notions of beauty and female virtue. This is a mass produced image, yet strives to distill and market those traditional ideas through the image of Mlle. Bucourt. Editor: The cigarette cards were fascinating little pieces of propaganda, promoting ideals alongside tobacco. It really begs the question: what meaning would it have had to those purchasing cigarettes? How did owning an image, like this one, impact their perceptions? Curator: Exactly! It's not just about advertising; it’s about shaping societal values. This specific kind of portrait normalizes looking at female figures through a consuming lens, which links desire with commodity. Consider the visual tension created by the theatricality of her garb and that direct, yet averted, gaze. She knows she's being watched, commodified. Editor: It becomes a kind of self-perpetuating system, doesn’t it? The actresses gain visibility and success, but also are forever captured within this capitalist matrix, constantly negotiating how they are being received. I'm sure we could consider how many women would even be able to obtain an image such as this to even learn social cues such as these... Curator: In her expression I detect, not sadness, but a subtle resignation, a self-awareness. An expression both personal and reflecting wider struggles concerning the value of feminine appearance and the illusion of status in modern life. Editor: Yes, seeing her here like this, prompts reflection on the complex forces at play. Mlle. Bucourt may not know it, but she carries this weight with elegance. Curator: Ultimately, an elegant token that belies far deeper meanings and hidden societal operations.