Miss Renwood, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a photographic print of Miss Renwood, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards were produced and distributed in the United States from around 1869 to 2011. This image creates meaning through its visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. The Actresses series to which this belongs capitalized on the increasing popularity of stage performers and the emerging culture of celebrity. By placing their images on cigarette cards, tobacco companies sought to associate their products with the glamour and allure of the theater. At the same time, this kind of promotional image helped construct a certain public image for actresses, who were often subject to intense scrutiny and moral judgement. In order to understand the context and meaning of this image, one could research the history of tobacco advertising, the role of women in the theater, and the social and cultural norms of the time.