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

This photograph of Miss de Marsy was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Made using albumen print, a popular photographic process of the late 19th century, paper was coated with a layer of egg white to create a glossy surface, then sensitized to light. The production of these cards was a highly industrialized affair, part of the broader rise of consumer culture. The tonal range of the print, from warm sepia to creamy whites, gives it a softness that contrasts with its purpose as commercial ephemera. The image of Miss de Marsy, an actress, creates an association between the cigarettes and the glamorous world of the stage. While these photographs were not considered high art, they reflect the era’s visual culture, and the growing role of photography in advertising and mass media. Looking closely at this modest object reminds us of the blurred boundaries between art, commerce, and popular taste.