From the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This is an advertisement trading card from the "Actors and Actresses" series, produced around the turn of the century by Goodwin & Company for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. The card is a window into the entangled worlds of entertainment, consumer culture, and identity formation. Here, the actress is styled in what was understood at that time as ‘Gypsy’ garb, replete with a headscarf, shawl, and tambourine. Yet, these popular representations often bore little resemblance to the lived experiences of Romani people, instead trafficking in romanticized and stereotypical tropes. The “Gypsy Queen” brand name itself exoticizes and appropriates a culture, essentializing it for the consumption of a mass audience. The card reminds us of how commercial imagery has historically played a role in shaping perceptions and reinforcing power dynamics, especially in relation to marginalized communities. It is an example of how deeply woven prejudice and assumptions can be in our culture.