Clara Vincent, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: Here we have a print from between 1885 and 1891 by Allen & Ginter. It's a portrait called "Clara Vincent, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes.” The sepia tones and staging feel very constructed, formal, almost theatrical in their presentation. What stands out to you? Curator: Well, first we have to ask, who was Clara Vincent and what does it mean for her image to be used to sell cigarettes? What power dynamics were at play here? Editor: So, you're wondering about her agency and how this image participated in marketing. Curator: Exactly. Tobacco cards featuring actresses gained popularity, normalizing smoking and subtly connecting it to notions of glamour and performance. So, who benefitted the most? The company or the artist? Was Clara properly compensated? How much control did Clara have over the usage and distribution of her likeness? We can begin to unravel a web of social and economic relationships. Editor: That's interesting; I hadn’t thought about the implications of promotional imagery then and now. It’s a glimpse into that era's celebrity culture and consumerism. Curator: And the gaze that captures her; who is invited to gaze at Clara's portrait and to whose advantage is the artist? These promotional images constructed desires but also broader assumptions about labor, gender and even social mobility. Editor: This has provided an excellent point of view on advertising's intersection with celebrity! Curator: These layers of interpretation offer powerful insights into a work which appears quite straightforward initially.