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

This photograph of Harriett Vernon was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards, popular in the late 19th century, reveal much about the era's values and the intertwining of commerce and culture. Actresses, like Vernon, were idolized figures, their images used to sell a variety of products. Note the exoticized costuming, and consider how it might reflect prevailing attitudes towards femininity and performance. The mass production and distribution of these cards mark a shift in advertising strategies, capitalizing on celebrity culture and visual media. By examining company records, census data, theatre programs and other archives, we can better understand the complex relationships between entertainment, consumerism, and social identity in this period. Art like this reflects and shapes its social context.