Mlle. Clementine, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This small card, featuring Mlle. Clementine, was one of a series of actors and actresses, produced by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. Printed on thin card stock, it’s a perfect example of late 19th-century commercial photography, reproduced on a mass scale. The image itself, sepia-toned and carefully posed, highlights the figure of the actress, a key aspect of the brand's appeal. But let’s think about this in terms of process. The production of these cards was deeply tied to industrial capitalism. The photographers, the printing presses, the distribution networks—all were part of a system designed to generate profit. Cigarette cards were essentially a form of advertising, using celebrity and spectacle to encourage consumption. So, while this may seem like a simple, throwaway item, it encapsulates the complex relationship between art, commerce, and society. It challenges us to consider how making and material are always connected to wider economic and cultural forces.