Fräulein Politz as Gretchen, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This photograph of Fräulein Politz as Gretchen, was created by Allen and Ginter, most likely in the late 19th century, as part of a series of actors and actresses used to promote Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards reflect the cultural values of the Gilded Age, particularly the commodification of female beauty and celebrity. Politz, a figure of European descent, is depicted in a romanticized, theatrical pose, embodying the role of Gretchen from Goethe’s “Faust”. The actress becomes a collectible object, packaged with tobacco products, and speaks volumes about how women were seen and used within the contexts of advertising and entertainment. The image and the series it belongs to capture a moment in time when the lines between art, commerce, and identity were becoming increasingly blurred. How does it feel to see a character, a woman, turned into a symbol of consumption?