Lola Rounds, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is "Lola Rounds," a photograph featured on a cigarette card, produced by Allen & Ginter, during an era when consumer culture was rapidly evolving. This card, part of a series spotlighting actors and actresses, reflects late 19th-century society's fascination with celebrity and performance. Lola Rounds, likely a stage performer, is depicted in costume, a visual representation of the era's entertainment industry and its stars. These cards were not just advertisements; they were cultural artifacts that offered glimpses into the lives and representations of women in the public eye. The very act of mass-producing and distributing these images speaks volumes about the commercialization of fame and the objectification of women. While seemingly innocuous, this card encapsulates complex social dynamics of gender, representation, and the burgeoning consumer culture of the time. It is through these objects that we can begin to understand the nuanced ways in which identity and image were constructed and circulated.