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

This card, from a series issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, features actress Dorothy Morton and was likely printed in the late 19th century. The photographic image, rendered in sepia tones, is printed on paper, a relatively new and rapidly industrializing medium at the time. Consider that this seemingly simple card represents a complex intersection of industry, labor, and celebrity culture. The mass production of such cards relied on factory labor, with workers churning out countless copies. Photography itself was becoming increasingly accessible, yet still retained an aura of novelty. The choice of sepia, a monochromatic process, speaks to the aesthetics of the era but also to the capabilities of early photographic printing. The card’s purpose was to promote the consumption of cigarettes, reflecting the marketing strategies of a burgeoning consumer culture. It is interesting to note that this conflation of craftsmanship and celebrity was a key element in the design, manufacture, and marketing of these products. It underscores how such seemingly simple objects can reveal larger narratives about labor, class, and the evolving landscape of visual culture.