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

This small card featuring Victoria Schilling, from the Actresses series, was created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. The sepia tone lends a nostalgic aura, while the dimensions confine our view, focusing attention on the figure's pose and attire. Schilling's stance, with her body angled and head turned, creates a dynamic tension within the frame. The floral patterns adorning her dress and apron soften the rigidity of the corset beneath, hinting at the performative nature of femininity. The small mirror in her hand serves as a Lacanian symbol, reflecting not just her image but also the gaze of the viewer and the construction of identity. The card's function as a promotional item complicates its reading. It is a form of early advertising, using Schilling's image to sell Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. It is a semiotic structure where Schilling becomes a sign, embodying desire and aspiration within the marketplace. The small scale invites a personal and intimate connection, yet this intimacy is mediated by commerce and the construction of celebrity. It challenges fixed meanings of beauty, representation and commodification.