Elsie Lombard, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

Editor: This albumen print from 1890 is part of the "Actresses" series by Kinney Brothers, used to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. It depicts Elsie Lombard, and I find it strangely captivating despite its faded appearance. What is your take on this piece? Curator: The photograph gives us a peek into the societal constructions surrounding women, specifically actresses, in the late 19th century. We can understand how Elsie Lombard's identity as a public figure was carefully manufactured and commodified through mass-produced images connected to advertising, cigarettes in this case. Does viewing her portrait within that commercial context shift your understanding of it? Editor: Absolutely. The commercial aspect definitely changes the dynamic. It makes you wonder about her agency, about the relationship between performance and real life... Curator: Precisely. Consider the subtle nuances in her pose and expression. Is it truly about capturing her "essence", or rather, a performance intended to sell a lifestyle associated with leisure and sophistication? And whose lifestyle was it meant to attract? Was it predominantly male consumers? Editor: That's a crucial question. Seeing her portrait through a feminist lens brings out new questions about representation, gender roles, and who holds the power in creating these images. Curator: It does. Also consider the economic implications. The fact that this image was accessible due to its nature as a cigarette card democratized art in a certain way. While simultaneously feeding into unhealthy habits and constructing an image of an idealized, but ultimately constructed, version of femininity. Editor: That's so thought-provoking. It really challenges you to question what is real and what is performative, both in art and in society. Curator: Exactly. Analyzing art this way helps us deconstruct prevailing cultural narratives and shed light on the power structures that shape them. I have a lot to consider after this conversation.