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

Curator: Immediately, the composition evokes a sense of intimate, private observation, almost voyeuristic. Editor: Today, we're looking at a portrait called "May Leicester, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes." It’s attributed to Allen & Ginter and dates from about 1885 to 1891. You can find it at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Curator: Ah, so this was a promotional card inserted into cigarette packs. Knowing that instantly reframes my perspective! What a means to mass produce an image, making the art accessible alongside a widely consumed commodity. Editor: Precisely. These cards were hugely popular and a reflection of Victorian consumer culture. The series highlighted public figures to lend a bit of glamour to the act of smoking. The image itself utilizes photography, print and drawing processes, blurring those established artistic boundaries of production. Curator: I'm curious about the print quality and photographic paper they were using at the time. It probably wasn't archival, so each surviving card becomes even more precious and imbued with added value over time as an object. It must have had tremendous circulation, reflecting and shaping celebrity culture. Editor: Yes, mass production gave rise to a new kind of celebrity. Leicester’s pose, gazing into the mirror, is interesting when considered in this context. Is she primping for the stage or just being observed by a future audience holding one of these cards? Her representation helped sell tobacco and establish her place in a constellation of famous performers, reflecting shifts in art consumption and popular representation in that era. Curator: Looking closer, you can also see where some details of the lace on her dress might have been embellished. I think this suggests the careful hand of a worker was needed in what we might assume was an automatic mechanical process. This card, initially destined to be crumpled in pockets alongside loose tobacco, now resides in The Met, transformed into something quite esteemed and displayed carefully for the public. Editor: It's remarkable how context shapes our perception. The convergence of theater, celebrity, commerce, and material culture certainly informs my reading of this delicate card. Curator: For me too. Looking past its original intended purpose allows a deeper reflection on the artwork's journey into art historical canon.