Hattie Moore, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

Editor: This is a photograph titled "Hattie Moore, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes," dating from the late 1880s. It’s from Goodwin & Company, currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It has an antiquated sepia quality to it that really sets the tone. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Immediately, I notice how the theatrical costume Hattie Moore is wearing is an exotic echo of folk traditions. Consider the shawl draped across her bodice—a visual marker alluding to "gypsy" or nomadic identities that captured the Victorian imagination. It hints at an embrace of the unconventional, albeit through a lens of commercial appropriation, don't you think? Editor: Definitely! It makes me think about stereotypes, especially with "Gypsy Queen Cigarettes" printed at the bottom. Do you think her outfit plays into those stereotypes? Curator: Absolutely. Clothing, especially theatrical attire like this, served as potent signifiers. The visual shorthand speaks volumes. This image traded on then-contemporary fascinations with otherness, creating a bridge between the consumer's desire for novelty and the familiar allure of the stage. Consider also how "Old Judge Cigarettes" utilizes Hattie Moore’s fame to imply prestige and aspiration to its customers. Editor: That’s a good point. So, it's less about accurate representation and more about what symbols sell? Curator: Precisely. Think of her confident gaze – a deliberate act. Images such as this serve as records, however curated and mediated, that tell us a lot about social attitudes. Her carefully constructed appearance acted as a key signifier to broader narratives of spectacle and consumption, then as now. What did you find most thought-provoking? Editor: How complex even a small, commercial photograph can be, layering meanings around celebrity, cultural appropriation, and advertising. Thank you. Curator: My pleasure, every piece has a fascinating story if you're willing to seek the thread.