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

This photograph of Edith Simmons, part of the Actresses series, was made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Produced during the late 19th century boom in industrial capitalism, this card is a photomechanical print, likely an albumen or silver print. The choice of this medium allowed the Kinney Brothers to reproduce the image quickly and in large quantities. The material qualities of the card itself are telling; thin and mass-produced, it speaks to the era's culture of collecting and consumption. Though small in scale, the card participates in a larger history of image production and distribution, raising questions about labor, value, and the commodification of celebrity. The actress Edith Simmons became an image, literally packaged with a very different kind of product. Considering the material and social context of this photograph allows us to think about its cultural significance, challenging traditional boundaries between art, commerce, and popular culture.