Miss Rose Sutherland, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

Editor: Here we have a promotional print from 1890, “Miss Rose Sutherland,” issued by Kinney Brothers to advertise Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. She has such a mischievous look! And those flowers--or is she holding something else? What can you tell me about this portrait? Curator: Well, let's consider the context. These cards were essentially miniature billboards, distributed to promote the consumption of cigarettes. The images, often featuring actresses like Miss Sutherland, were carefully curated to create associations between the product and ideals of beauty, femininity, and success. Editor: So, this isn’t really about art then? It's just advertising. Curator: It's more complicated than that. What makes it art? Who decides? That's one aspect to consider. These cards had a public role. They contributed to the growing visual culture of the late 19th century, shaping perceptions and desires. Rose Sutherland is actively *performing* for the camera and, by extension, the consumer. Note the wink--a complicit glance towards the viewer. What does it mean that tobacco companies leveraged celebrity to create such widespread advertisement? Editor: It feels a little… manipulative now, looking back. The cards become like little time capsules of the aspirations and anxieties of the time, with celebrity-fueled product placement, don't they? Curator: Exactly. And, what were the wider social costs and health risks associated with the product they were pushing? We can think about how commercial images have played a critical role in manufacturing consent around different commodities across time. So what's *your* read on that playful wink now? Editor: Now, I can’t unsee it as less mischievous and more of a cynical promotion. The cigarette is implied but not visible. I’ll certainly rethink the purpose of commercial portraiture going forward. Curator: Precisely, and questioning those assumptions helps us better understand the history – and power – of images.