Grace Hurd, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 7) for Dixie Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: This is a trade card featuring Grace Hurd, created by Allen & Ginter between 1885 and 1891. The print portrays a woman perched on a wooden fence. There's something quite playful about it; it seems to capture a lighthearted moment. As an iconographer, what do you see in this image? Curator: Beyond the surface, this image is fascinating because it embodies several layers of cultural meaning. The actress herself, elevated to a collectible item, becomes a symbol of beauty and success of the era. But look closer, note the "Dixie Cigarettes" inscribed below the image of the woman. Can you notice any interesting juxtapositions or underlying tensions? Editor: Yes, now that you mention it, it’s a very odd juxtaposition! A glamorous woman being used to sell cigarettes. It feels contradictory, almost like the image is masking something. Curator: Precisely. In this case, the actress represents a specific aspiration: to appear refined while participating in a rather… less than refined activity like cigarette smoking, especially among women in the 19th century. This reveals societal anxieties and evolving roles of women in that period. Editor: That’s incredible! I had not considered the tension between the image and the advertisement itself. This cigarette card provides some deep insights into the cultural complexities of the time. Curator: Exactly! These visual emblems speak volumes when decoded with a broader cultural understanding, don't they? Every image holds stories of who we were, who we are, and who we aspire to be. Editor: Absolutely! I will certainly never look at trade cards the same way again!