Annie St. Tel, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

Editor: Here we have "Annie St. Tel," an albumen print from 1890, part of the "Actresses" series by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It’s quite striking how the image of a young actress is used to promote cigarettes. What do you make of this unusual pairing? Curator: This image gives us a lens into the social and economic history of the late 19th century. Cigarette companies like Kinney Brothers heavily relied on popular imagery to sell their products. Actresses, celebrated figures of the era, became powerful marketing tools, shaping public desires. Think about the public role of actresses, the way they commanded the stage, and then consider their images printed on something as ubiquitous as a cigarette card. What does that transition suggest about fame, consumption, and visibility at the time? Editor: It's fascinating how an artistic medium like photography becomes entangled with consumer culture so directly. Do you see any impact on how women were viewed? Curator: Absolutely. These images, circulated widely, contributed to the construction of an idealized feminine image. This shaped aspirations but also set constraints. How much did such readily consumed imagery dictate the performative and private expectations for women, specifically actresses? Editor: It makes me think about celebrity culture today. Curator: Precisely! There are clear parallels between the commercial exploitation of images then and now. Examining this print provides a crucial glimpse into the historical roots of the commodification of fame and the ways public image intertwines with commerce and consumption. Editor: It's wild how much history is packed into a small cigarette card! Thanks, this was really enlightening. Curator: My pleasure. Considering art in its historical and cultural context really opens it up.