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

This is “Miss Moore” from the Actresses series (N245), a promotional card issued by Kinney Brothers for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The sepia photograph is a tightly cropped profile of a woman with carefully styled hair, a bare chest, and lace around her shoulders. The composition emphasizes certain textures and forms: the soft, undulating curves of Miss Moore's hair, the smoothness of her skin, and the delicate intricacy of the lace. It’s a study in contrasts – the severe profile view against the softness of the subject, the sharp text versus the faded details of the photo. The commodification of art and beauty is evident here. By distributing these cards with cigarette packs, Kinney Brothers tapped into a broader cultural fascination with celebrity and the allure of the stage. The formal elements work together to package and sell an image of idealized femininity as an accompaniment to their product. The soft sepia tones and careful composition create an atmosphere of refined elegance. This transforms an everyday object—a cigarette pack—into a carrier of cultural meaning.