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

This is a promotional image of Rachel Booth from the Actors and Actresses series for Dixie Cigarettes. These cards, produced by Allen & Ginter, were common in the late 19th century. During this period, mass culture and consumerism were on the rise, and the burgeoning advertising industry used images of famous figures to promote products. Rachel Booth, like other actresses featured, was commodified as an object of desire, reinforcing societal expectations of women as objects of beauty and spectacle. The image plays with Victorian notions of femininity and celebrity, offering a glimpse into the cultural values of the time. The distribution of these images through cigarette packs also speaks to the widespread use of tobacco, a habit often marketed with gendered appeals. These cards blur the lines between art, commerce, and identity, reflecting the complex interplay of these forces in shaping cultural perceptions.