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

This is a commercial card from the Actors and Actresses series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. In this modest-sized card, we see a sepia-toned image of Elsie Gerome set against a neutral background. The composition is dominated by the subject’s face, which is slightly turned, drawing our eye towards her upward gaze and smile. The use of sepia creates a nostalgic mood, while the actress's gaze gives the sense that there is something beyond the frame that we should also be looking towards. The text elements reinforce a structure which serves to promote the brand, whilst also representing Elsie Gerome as part of a carefully constructed cultural and commercial image. This exemplifies how the boundaries between art, commerce, and representation often dissolve into one another, prompting us to consider how value is created and assigned within a complex semiotic system. The interplay between the visual elements and the product being advertised encourages a reflection on the nature of celebrity and consumption.