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

This photograph of Ada Melrose, from the Actresses series, was made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. This card, made with mass-produced photographic techniques, was created to slip into cigarette packs. The sepia tone and smooth surface would have been achieved through chemical processes, making multiples quickly and cheaply. Its small size speaks to its distribution method. The photograph’s purpose was pure advertising – to encourage the consumption of tobacco through the allure of celebrity. The company wasn’t selling art; they were selling aspiration, capitalizing on the popularity of actresses like Ada Melrose to move their product. This commodification of image and fame underscores the intersection of entertainment, industry, and consumer culture. This challenges conventional notions of artistic value, prompting us to consider how mass production reshapes our understanding of art and labor.