Annie Russell in A Royal Family, from the Actresses series (T1), distributed by the American Tobacco Co. to promote Turkish Trophies Cigarettes 1900

Editor: Here we have "Annie Russell in A Royal Family" a colored pencil drawing from around 1900, part of the "Actresses" series by Frederick Moladore Spiegle. The portrait is so delicate and ornate, capturing this woman in what seems like a moment of poised presentation. What do you see when you look at this, especially given it was a promotional item for Turkish Trophy Cigarettes? Curator: This portrait, while seemingly a straightforward celebration of an actress, opens a window onto a complex intersection of celebrity culture, consumerism, and the performance of femininity at the turn of the 20th century. It’s interesting that Annie Russell, presented in the guise of royalty, is simultaneously being used to sell a mass-produced product like cigarettes. Editor: So, her image is both aspirational and readily accessible. Curator: Exactly. This speaks to the democratization of glamour and perhaps, subtly, to the role of women in advertising as both consumers and objects of consumption. Consider the implications of associating female beauty and theatrical success with a product often marketed towards men. Editor: It feels a bit exploitative when framed that way. Curator: Indeed. Also consider how this image reflects and perhaps reinforces prevailing societal expectations around women, performance, and class. How does this portrayal align with or challenge those expectations, particularly when distributed as part of a commercial campaign? Editor: I see how her depiction is carefully constructed, probably less about capturing her true personality and more about selling a fantasy. Curator: Right. This object becomes a site where multiple power dynamics—gender, class, capital—are visualized and negotiated. Exploring those dynamics deepens our understanding of the image, moving past surface-level admiration. Editor: I never considered advertising ephemera as something you could really unpack, socially and culturally. Thanks for pointing this out! Curator: It's a reminder that even seemingly innocuous images can hold fascinating layers of meaning once you start questioning their context and purpose.