Edith Pond, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Curator: What strikes me immediately is the theatricality of this photograph. Editor: Absolutely, that feathery costume looks as though it must have been itchy! Before we get ahead of ourselves, though, let's properly introduce this piece. This is a photographic print entitled "Edith Pond, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes," by Allen & Ginter, dating between 1885 and 1891. Curator: It’s fascinating to see how even mass-produced commercial images, like these cigarette cards, can reveal so much about the performance culture of the late 19th century. Editor: Mass produced for mass consumption, precisely! The materials used to create this small photo print tell their own story about how images were becoming increasingly democratized. Note the surface, too. This photo appears adhered to card stock for rigidity and protection from damage, enabling greater distribution in that era. Curator: These cards served a promotional purpose, naturally. Allen & Ginter hoped that associating their cigarettes with popular performers like Edith Pond would enhance their brand image and sales. The cigarette companies actively shaped the popular perception of these performers. Editor: Think of all the labor involved, too, in capturing Edith’s likeness and turning her likeness into a multiple. The garment construction, set decoration and lighting must have entailed a sizeable coordinated effort. Curator: I’m curious about the choice of presenting Pond in what seems to be a non-specific costume, rather than in a recognizable role. What narrative were they trying to build around her image, besides glamour? The company positioned Edith, the celebrity, as both aspirational figure and saleswoman. Editor: It's also about the tangible exchange. The material value is intertwined with this star power that consumers literally handle, collect, and trade, too. Curator: A reminder that images, even ephemeral ones, are deeply embedded in complex systems of production, consumption, and cultural meaning. Editor: Precisely. These types of commercial portraits speak volumes about the intersection of art, industry, and the evolving role of photography within everyday life.