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

This is a photographic print of Miss Salmon, from the Actresses series, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in the late 19th century. The image is a product of industrial capitalism. The Kinney Brothers used photographic technology to create a promotional item. These images were produced and distributed on a mass scale, and were inserted into Sweet Caporal Cigarette packets. The mass production and distribution of these cards depended on industrial processes, and the skilled labor of photographers and printing technicians. The cards were created to promote their brand and increase sales. The portrait of Miss Salmon is a carefully constructed image, intended to create a sense of glamour and aspiration. The use of photography in this context reveals the commodification of art and celebrity. The Kinney Brothers used the image of Miss Salmon, an actress, to sell their product, blurring the lines between art, entertainment, and commerce. Understanding the material processes and social context of this image allows us to see it as more than just a pretty picture. It is a product of its time, shaped by the forces of industrial capitalism and consumer culture.