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

Vio Norton, from the Actors and Actresses series, is a promotional trading card for Virginia Brights Cigarettes made by Allen & Ginter. This image exists within the context of late 19th-century celebrity culture, a time when performers were both admired and commodified. Norton, dressed in a tutu and laced boots, assumes a posture of studied humility, a contrast to the burgeoning visibility and power of actresses at the time. These cards reflect not only a fascination with theatrical personalities but also the dynamics of gender and class. Actresses like Norton were among the first women to achieve a kind of public recognition, and yet they did so within a society that still largely restricted women's roles. The choice to include actresses in cigarette packaging speaks to the desires and fantasies of consumers, linking the allure of the stage with the pleasure of smoking. The card serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between art, commerce, and identity in shaping cultural values.