Ethel Barrymore, from the Actresses series (T1), distributed by the American Tobacco Co. to promote Turkish Trophies Cigarettes 1900

This is a promotional card for Turkish Trophies Cigarettes, featuring actress Ethel Barrymore, made at the start of the 20th century. During this period the commodification of femininity was rife; here Barrymore’s image is used to sell cigarettes, aligning her allure with the product. Ethel Barrymore came from a dynasty of actors and was one of the most famous performers of her time, yet here her talent is overlooked, reduced to a pretty picture on a card. Her dress is light and airy, connoting innocence, yet she's promoting a product with known health risks. The card itself flattens the complexities of being a woman into a two-dimensional image for mass consumption. The card provides a snapshot of the social dynamics at the time, reflecting the tensions between women’s achievements and their representation in popular culture. It invites us to consider the role of identity in commercial contexts.