From the Actresses series (N57) promoting Our Little Beauties Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1890

This is a card from the "Actresses" series, created by Allen & Ginter, to promote their tobacco products. The monochromatic palette immediately catches the eye, dominated by subtle gradations of tone to construct the scene. Notice how this is achieved by the stippling effect. The composition divides the space into distinct zones, creating a hierarchy: the actress, the stage on which she stands, and the advertisement itself. The framing, which cuts her off mid-thigh, creates a certain intimacy and immediacy. The model's pose exudes confidence. She is self-aware of her role as a spectacle. The text, “Our Little Beauties,” is not merely a label. It’s a commentary on the commodification of the image. The word ‘Our’ creates a sense of ownership over the image and actress it represents. The actress is reduced to a desirable object. The formal qualities of the card, with its controlled palette and strategic composition, ultimately serve the capitalist imperative of persuasion.