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

This is “Miss Sutherland,” a promotional card from the Actresses series, made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. These cards were included in packs of Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, capitalizing on the popularity of actresses during the late 19th century. The actress depicted is elevated and idealized, a vision of white femininity intended to sell cigarettes. This image participates in the widespread commodification of women that accompanied the rise of consumer culture, reinforcing societal expectations about beauty, performance, and visibility. Simultaneously, we might wonder about the labor and lives of the women producing these very cigarettes. These cards existed within a complex social landscape, reflecting prevailing attitudes toward women, labor, and leisure. Though small, this card opens up questions about the dynamics of representation, the economics of desire, and the intertwined histories of tobacco, advertising, and celebrity culture.