Princess of Wales, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This is Princess of Wales, a photographic print made by Goodwin & Company as part of the Actors and Actresses series for Old Judge Cigarettes. Notice the sepia tone which drenches the image, creating a unified field of muted browns and tans. The composition is structured by the subject’s formal pose, shoulders squared to the viewer. It’s framed by a tight crop, focusing attention on her carefully arranged attire and composed expression. The use of photography here is particularly interesting. It flattens the image, emphasizing the surface and texture of the print itself. What are the implications of mass-producing images of royalty for commercial purposes? The rigid composition and tonal uniformity suggest an attempt to control and standardize the representation of the Princess. It presents a study in how photography can simultaneously democratize and formalize its subjects. Consider how the artwork challenges fixed meanings, and engages with new ways of thinking about representation.