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

This is a promotional trade card for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, made around the turn of the century by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It's a photographic print, mass-produced using industrial processes to promote the brand. The card features an image of a performer named Omene, likely an actress, in costume. The sepia tone gives it a vintage feel, but it also speaks to the way images were manufactured and consumed in the late 19th century. The card's small size made it easily distributable, fitting into cigarette packs as a collectible item. These cards were not unique artworks, but rather products of a growing consumer culture, blurring the lines between art, advertising, and commerce. The Kinney Brothers harnessed the power of photography and printing technology to create desire, using Omene’s exoticized image to sell cigarettes. The card’s value lies not just in its aesthetic appeal but in its reflection of the social and economic forces shaping popular culture at the time. It's a reminder that even seemingly disposable objects can offer insights into our shared history.