Hilda Thomas, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card of Hilda Thomas, from the Actors and Actresses series, was created by Allen & Ginter. The photograph and its sepia tones give the image a feeling of gentle nostalgia. The actress gazes off to the side with a soft expression that may be perceived as alluring. However, let’s consider the photograph through a structuralist lens. Note the rigid form of her corset, the way it shapes her body into an idealized silhouette. We might interpret this as a signifier of the social constraints placed on women during this time. The card is part of a series made to advertise cigarettes, so its function within society was to promote a product through the staged depiction of beauty and celebrity. The actress's thoughtful gaze and hand gesture are, therefore, not merely expressive, but carefully constructed signs that work to establish a connection between feminine allure and the brand it advertises. These images invite us to question the underlying structures of representation and the codes through which meaning is created.