From the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 5) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card, one of a series of many, was produced by the firm of Allen & Ginter to promote Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Printed on thin paper stock, it uses photographic imagery reproduced through industrial printing techniques. The image shows an actress, one of many collectible portraits packaged with cigarettes in the late 19th century. While seemingly inconsequential, these cards were part of a massive shift in the production and consumption of images. Photography, once a laborious process, was becoming increasingly mechanized, allowing for mass distribution. The photomechanical processes allowed for easy reproduction, democratizing access to portraiture and celebrity culture. These cards were essentially advertisements, linking the allure of fame with the pleasure of smoking. The actress becomes a commodity, her image serving to sell cigarettes. Though small and ephemeral, this card tells us a lot about the industrialization of image-making, and the emergence of a consumer culture driven by mass media. It challenges us to consider the relationship between art, commerce, and the construction of celebrity in the modern world.