Mlle. Paulette, from the Actresses series (N246), Type 1, issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sporting Extra Cigarettes 1888 - 1892

Curator: Looking at this cabinet card of Mlle. Paulette, from the "Actresses" series by Kinney Brothers, dating between 1888 and 1892, one can easily be struck by the blend of commerce and theatrical artistry inherent in these promotional cigarette cards. Editor: It's sepia-toned daydream, really! I love the slightly mussed hair escaping from that prim bonnet—a tiny rebellion peeking through the proper facade. It almost whispers a mischievous story. Curator: Absolutely, the apparent simplicity belies its intended use, the cultural symbolism, and the context. Issued by Kinney Brothers, it aimed to boost sales of Sporting Extra Cigarettes. Consider this in light of period symbolism and performance… it subtly elevated smoking through celebrity endorsement and, here, staged "feminine charm". Editor: It's such a strange concept, selling smokes through what almost reads like a portrait of innocence. The gaze feels open, yet distant – like she's thinking about something other than being photographed for a cigarette ad. Or maybe that’s what Kinney Brothers wants us to believe. Tricky, very tricky. Curator: Precisely. In a period marked by rapidly changing social mores, these cards acted as both artifacts of emergent consumer culture and visual tools defining types, ideals and roles within that culture. Cards such as this become tools in building that cultural narrative. Editor: It's funny, isn't it? This object designed for fleeting consumption now sits in the Met, offering a small window into that bygone world. A face staring back from the edge of history, pondering it seems. Curator: Right! From simple advertising ephemera to valued social documents; it showcases evolving interpretations layered through both intended use and present-day readings. Editor: And isn’t that the magic? It was selling a smoke, now it is prompting thoughts, memories, dreams almost... Makes me wonder, Mlle. Paulette, what you really were thinking, then... Curator: Indeed, thank you! Another subtle narrative unveiled to enrich our comprehension of history, image and their entanglements.