Miss Carleton, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a promotional card of Miss Carleton from the Actors and Actresses series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Such cards were produced in the United States, during the late 19th century. At the time, the burgeoning tobacco industry sought novel marketing strategies, turning to the cult of celebrity. Here, we see the institutionalization of fame intersecting with the rise of consumer culture. The card creates meaning through visual codes. The theatrical pose, the revealing costume, all serve to enhance Miss Carleton's allure, aligning her image with the desires the brand seeks to create in its consumers. The card can be seen as commenting on the social structures of its time. It reflects a society increasingly fascinated by celebrity, and comfortable with the commodification of personal image. To understand it better, we need to consider the social conditions that shaped artistic production during this era, and the evolving relationship between art, commerce, and celebrity. What does this tell us about the public role of art? What are the politics of imagery? Such questions help us to appreciate art as something contingent on its social and institutional context.