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

This small photograph of Lena Lorraine was made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as one of a series of cards to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes in the late 19th century. Lena Lorraine, an actress, sits gracefully, subtly inviting you into the theatrical world she inhabits. These cards were a clever marketing strategy, capitalizing on the burgeoning cult of celebrity and the increasing visibility of women in public life. What does it mean to see a woman, an actress, used to sell cigarettes? The image hints at the complex negotiation women had to make as they entered the public sphere. Here, Lorraine’s image is both a celebration of her individual persona and a tool for commerce, reflecting the tightrope women walked, balancing personal ambition with societal expectations. It’s a reminder that even in moments of apparent progress, the commodification of identity is often at play.