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

This is a carte-de-visite featuring Lottie Williams, part of the “Actresses” series, produced by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. The sepia tone gives the photograph a uniform texture, emphasizing the subject's pose and attire rather than vibrant colors. The texture of the backdrop contrasts with Lottie’s dress. The wallpaper pattern is a sharp counterpoint to the soft flowing lines of the dress. Semiotically, the photograph operates on several levels. The controlled pose, with hands clasped, suggests a constructed image of femininity. Lottie's tilted head directs our gaze down her body. The card serves not only as a portrait but also as advertisement, embedding a set of cultural values within a commodity. By presenting a figure of beauty within a carefully arranged composition, the photograph invites us to consider the constructed nature of identity and its entanglement with consumer culture.