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

Allen and Ginter created this card of Molly Mack as part of a series of actors and actresses to be sold with Virginia Brights Cigarettes. While the date of this card is unknown, the object is a product of the late 19th century. It is interesting to consider what the image of an actress represents in this format. How are we meant to understand her role as a performer, versus her identity as a woman? The pose she strikes is suggestive, yet the card itself is small, and the overall effect rather demure. The card would have functioned as a collectible, raising questions about how images of women were circulated, consumed, and commodified at this time. This tension between public image and personal identity is what makes this small card so compelling.