Grace Stewart, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 6) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is an albumen silver print of Grace Stewart, from the Actors and Actresses series, made by Allen & Ginter. The photograph presents Stewart in a staged tableau. Leaning against a classical pedestal, she gazes into the distance, her dress a cascade of light against the sepia tones. The composition employs a deliberate contrast between the soft curves of her figure and the rigid lines of the pedestal, which is adorned with figures of classical antiquity. The sepia tone pervading the image adds to the photograph's symbolic weight, a nostalgic gaze on a past era. This aesthetic choice invites contemplation on how we, as viewers, engage with notions of performance, celebrity, and the interplay between classical ideals and contemporary representation. Consider how the act of photographing and printing this image transforms Stewart into a commodity, packaged with Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The photograph, therefore, isn't just an image but an artifact, imbued with cultural and economic meaning.