Jenny Lind, from Leaders series (N222) issued by Kinney Bros. 1888

This is Jenny Lind, a chromolithograph from the Leaders series, produced by Kinney Bros. Tobacco Company. These cards, included in cigarette packs, offer a glimpse into the social values of the late 19th century. The card depicts Jenny Lind, a celebrated Swedish opera singer, known as the "Swedish Nightingale." Lind's image, carefully crafted, emphasizes her beauty and talent, reinforcing the period's idealization of women in the arts. She stands for the height of European culture, and yet, in the context of an advertisement for tobacco, we must consider how the image of a respectable woman was used to sell an everyday product. The commercialization of Lind’s image reflects the complex intersection of art, celebrity, and consumerism. This card reminds us to consider the diverse ways in which images shape our understanding of identity and culture.