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

This is a promotional image of Maggie Rivers from the Actresses series, printed by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. The late 19th-century was marked by rapid industrialization and urbanization, which saw the rise of consumer culture and mass media, like these trade cards. Here, we see Maggie Rivers, a performer, strategically captured in a pose that would have appealed to the male gaze, while subtly challenging the rigid gender norms of the time. The card was designed to slip into packs of Sweet Caporal cigarettes, enticing consumers with images of alluring, yet respectable women. What does it mean for a woman to be both a subject of admiration and a tool for commerce? It’s worth considering how these images, while seemingly innocuous, played a role in constructing and reinforcing prevailing attitudes towards women, labor, and desire. This image invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between representation, identity, and power.