Mollie Fuller, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This is a small card featuring Mollie Fuller, from the Actors and Actresses series, made around the turn of the century by Goodwin & Company for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. These cards were immensely popular and offer a fascinating glimpse into the cultural values of the time. Mollie Fuller, an actress, is presented here as an idealized image of feminine beauty, carefully constructed for public consumption. In that era, the burgeoning advertising industry often used women's images to sell products, reflecting and reinforcing societal expectations about gender and beauty. Note the card's connection to "Gypsy Queen Cigarettes," a name which exoticizes and commodifies Gypsy identity. This appropriation highlights issues of race, representation, and the marketing of cultural stereotypes. The image invites us to consider how identities are packaged and sold. As we reflect on this card, let’s consider the complex ways in which art, commerce, and identity intersect.