Mlle. Elren, Paris, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card featuring Mlle. Elren was printed by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. It’s made through industrial printing, a process that allowed for mass production and distribution, embedding it firmly within the era’s burgeoning consumer culture. Consider the materiality of this object. It’s a small piece of paper, flimsy yet durable enough to be tucked into a cigarette pack. The photograph is not a unique, hand-crafted object but a reproduction, made possible by advancements in photography and printing technology. It's not just an image; it is a commodity, produced and circulated to promote the consumption of cigarettes. The image itself, depicting a Parisian actress, adds another layer. Mlle. Elren is transformed into a collectible, a token of glamour circulated within the everyday transaction of buying cigarettes. This was about democratizing taste. The card blurs the lines between art, advertising, and everyday life. It encourages us to consider the social and economic forces that shape our aesthetic experiences.