Bessie Lynch, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: Here we have a photograph titled "Bessie Lynch, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes" created between 1885 and 1891 by Allen & Ginter. What strikes me most is its nostalgic quality; it feels very much of its time. How do you interpret this work, given the context of its creation as a cigarette card? Curator: The actress becomes both the art and the advertisement. Bessie Lynch is not simply portrayed; she's being offered as a symbol of aspiration. The cigarette card miniaturizes fame, making it pocket-sized and collectible. What do you notice about her gaze? Editor: She appears self-assured, though maybe a touch melancholic? Is this perhaps communicating a sense of both accessibility and unattainable glamour? Curator: Precisely! Her slight melancholy adds depth, suggesting a narrative beyond the immediate image. These images served a dual purpose: to sell a product and to provide a visual vocabulary of success. And beyond Lynch, consider the symbolic weight carried by actors and actresses through history: representing humanity. Does this connection to mass consumption cheapen it, or simply reflect a shift in cultural values? Editor: That’s fascinating to think about. I suppose it shows how even everyday objects can be powerful cultural artifacts. The cigarette brand is using her image, but in return, the image preserves a piece of the actor and keeps her memory alive, too. Curator: Yes, a reciprocal, symbolic immortality is bestowed upon Bessie, isn't it? The interplay of commerce and commemoration here leaves much for us to interpret and discover!