Card 412, Maud Granger, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 7) for Dixie Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Curator: Oh, this one’s enchanting! There's such a quiet determination in her eyes. A subtle fierceness, perhaps? It’s a small printed card featuring Maud Granger from the Actors and Actresses series by Allen & Ginter, dating to sometime between 1885 and 1891. Editor: It’s an advertisement card, yes? I see it's specifically “Card 412… for Dixie Cigarettes.” Makes you think about celebrity endorsements, right? How even back then, fame was a commodity and a powerful selling point. I wonder, who was Maud Granger? What did she do to earn this promotional spot? Curator: I imagine she had a powerful stage presence. The way she holds that spear, not quite threatening, but assertive... it evokes the feeling of a huntress ready to act! What medium is that? Is that color pencil? Editor: Correct, and print as well. The colored-pencil rendering is a nice touch – softens the image slightly and makes her seem more accessible. I'm interested in how it blurs lines – theater, marketing, popular culture – all packaged neatly to sell cigarettes! Did fame make you trustworthy, even then? Curator: Precisely. The details matter: The frills on her shoulders, her focused eyes. And it's funny, even knowing it's an ad, her face seems so individual. Editor: The fact that these cards were collected and traded also points to a kind of democratizing of portraiture. Portraits used to be exclusive to the wealthy elite. These cards bring representations of notable figures to the masses, embedding them within daily life, especially to cigarette smokers. Curator: Definitely something to think about while studying the artwork today. Thank you! Editor: My pleasure! There are so many fascinating angles!