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

This is Vebia, one of the actresses featured in a series of trade cards created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. These cards were included in packs of Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. In the late 19th century, the rise of commercial photography coincided with a growing fascination with actresses, stage performers, and celebrities. These trade cards helped fuel that interest, turning these women into widely recognizable figures. Vebia is posed in costume, reminiscent of classical attire, but undeniably shaped by the fashion of the time. Her corseted waist and the emphasis on her figure reflects the male gaze inherent in such promotional materials. While seemingly innocuous, these cards offered a window into the complex social dynamics of the era, revealing aspirations, ideals of beauty, and the commodification of women's images. They represent an early form of advertising, deeply intertwined with the construction of fame and femininity.