Mlle. Carmen, Paris, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This is a photograph of Mlle. Carmen, Paris, made by Goodwin & Company as part of the "Actors and Actresses" series for Old Judge Cigarettes. These cards existed within a burgeoning media landscape that commodified images of women, particularly actresses. The focus on actresses, like Mlle. Carmen, highlights the intersections of celebrity, gender, and commercial culture during this period. The actress's image, separated from her labor, becomes a commodity, reflecting the complex dynamics of the male gaze and female representation. Consider the layers of performance involved. Mlle. Carmen is an actress, embodying a role, and here, she is further mediated through the lens of commercial photography. Her image, mass-produced on cigarette cards, circulates within a culture of desire and consumption. This image prompts us to reflect on the historical and ongoing objectification of women in media. How is the performance of identity captured and consumed?