Berthou, Palais Royal, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a lithograph made by Allen & Ginter as part of a series of promotional cards for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. This card, like others in the series, depicts an actress, in this case, Berthou of the Palais Royal. Cards like these were immensely popular at the time, and they offer us a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural values of the late 19th century. In an era before mass media, these cards served as a kind of proto-celebrity culture, showcasing popular figures from the stage. The actresses are presented here as objects of beauty and desire, their images carefully constructed to appeal to a mass audience. At the same time, the association of these images with a product like cigarettes speaks to the growing commercialization of leisure and entertainment. The social conditions that shaped artistic production were very different then. It’s important for historians to examine not only the artistic techniques employed but also the economic and social contexts in which these images were created and consumed.