Card 705, Fanny Rice, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a card from the Actors and Actresses series made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards, popular in the late 19th century, offer us a glimpse into the celebrities and cultural values of the time. The card features Fanny Rice, an actress, in profile. Think about the implications of the burgeoning commercial culture which saw celebrity endorsements become integrated with everyday items like cigarettes. Fanny Rice, as a figure, embodies some of the contradictions of the era: here is a woman who gains public recognition through performance, yet her image is used to promote a product that arguably undermines health and well-being. Consider how the commodification of her image might have shaped her identity and agency as a performer. Cards like these were collected and traded, creating a network of consumption and celebrity worship. What does it mean to have your identity reduced to a collectible object? Through this small portrait of Fanny Rice, we can consider the complex relationship between identity, commerce, and representation in a rapidly changing society.