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

This small photograph of Tennye Poole, from the Actresses series, was issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards, popular in the late 19th century, offer a glimpse into how women, particularly actresses, were commodified and consumed as images. Tennye Poole, like other actresses featured in these series, was both a performer and a product. Her image, carefully posed and reproduced, served to sell cigarettes, intertwining her identity with consumer culture. The widespread distribution of these cards allowed for the mass consumption of female images, reflecting and shaping societal ideals of beauty and femininity. The Actresses series also touches on issues of labor and representation, highlighting the complex relationship between actresses, their public image, and the commercial interests that profited from their likeness. These cards remind us of the subtle ways in which identity can be packaged and sold, inviting us to consider the broader implications of image consumption and the commodification of the self.