Verbotene Fruchte, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small photograph was produced in the United States, likely in the 1880s, by Allen & Ginter as one of a series of collectible cards included in packs of Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Titled "Verbotene Fruchte", or "Forbidden Fruit", the image presents a seemingly innocent scene of two women, one reading while the other affectionately embraces her. These cards often featured actresses, athletes, or other figures admired at the time, but the title hints at something more. The German phrase "forbidden fruit" and the intimate pose could suggest a subtle challenge to the strict social norms of the Victorian era, particularly around female relationships. The photograph’s circulation as a commercial product also raises interesting questions about the relationship between art, consumer culture, and the construction of social identities. To better understand this image, one could delve into studies of advertising history and the social history of gender and sexuality in the late 19th century. It reminds us that even seemingly innocuous images can be rich sources for understanding the complex interplay between art and society.