Lillian Grubb, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This small photograph of Lillian Grubb was mass-produced by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. to be included in packs of cigarettes. Photographic prints like this were a product of industrial capitalism. The making of photographs like these involved a complex division of labor, from manufacturing the paper and chemicals, to operating the camera and printing the final image. This image is printed using mass production techniques on a small piece of card, making it cheap and easily disposable. But the photograph’s sepia tones also lend it an air of old-fashioned glamour. By including images of actresses in their cigarette packs, the company was trying to associate their product with the world of entertainment and leisure, but also with the allure of fame. These photographs speak volumes about the industrial processes and social values that shaped their creation. They remind us that even the most seemingly trivial objects can be rich sources of cultural and historical insight.