Lora Monti, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: Here we have a portrait of Lora Monti, printed between 1885 and 1891 by Allen & Ginter, originally a photograph, I believe. It’s quite striking how she’s posed. What is your interpretation of this image? Curator: This card, distributed with Virginia Brights Cigarettes, highlights a crucial intersection: consumer culture, labor, and the mass production of imagery. The photograph itself is less important than its reproduction – the move from unique photographic object to widely available, industrially-produced image meant for mass consumption. How does this connect art with commerce? Editor: It's fascinating to think of art being used to sell cigarettes. How would these images be distributed? Curator: These were inserted into cigarette packs. Think about the means of production: photography, printing, the labor involved in tobacco production, and the mechanisms of distribution all contribute to its meaning. Who benefits from these processes, and what message about status is being advertised by connecting actresses and cigarettes? Editor: I see what you mean, it's not just a portrait but a product of various industries. Curator: Precisely! We should also consider what values these images promoted within their historical moment through the products that were circulating in it. What is being bought and sold here beyond the cigarettes themselves? Editor: That makes me look at it completely differently, thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Considering the means of art production opens up a whole new perspective on artistic value.