Card 402, Alice Neville and Edith Woodthorpe, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is Card 402, Alice Neville and Edith Woodthorpe, from the Actors and Actresses series, printed by Allen & Ginter. This small card presents a sepia-toned portrait of two actresses against a draped backdrop. The composition is structured by the contrast between the seated figure on the left and the standing figure on the right, creating a dynamic visual balance. Notice how the textures of their dresses and the curtain subtly define the space. The limited tonal range emphasizes form and line, drawing our attention to the figures' poses and expressions. The sepia tone gives the image a sense of nostalgia, typical of the late 19th-century aesthetic. This card exemplifies how commercial art utilized prevailing cultural codes, such as celebrity and theater, to promote products. The actresses' representation, carefully framed and stylized, functions as a signifier of luxury and aspiration. By placing these figures within a system of exchange, the artwork invites us to consider the commodification of fame and beauty. It reveals how cultural values are constructed and disseminated through mass-produced images.