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

This black and white photograph, “Julia Marlow,” is part of the “Actresses” series issued by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1890. The series was used to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The photograph depicts Julia Marlow, a prominent American actress, from the shoulders up. Marlow is dressed in a white, flowing gown and poses in profile, looking toward the right. The simple design and framing of the image create a sense of intimacy and realism, common to the portrait photography genre. The card is now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.