Georgette Debray, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This is an undated printed card of Georgette Debray, from the Actresses series, issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. The composition of the image, typical of commercial cards of the era, utilizes a classical portrait format. The subject, Georgette Debray, is centrally positioned, her gaze meeting the viewer's, framed by soft, diffused light, which lends the image a gentle, almost ethereal quality. However, the very nature of its creation and distribution challenges traditional notions of art. These cards, distributed with cigarettes, existed within a commercial framework. Their semiotic function was not purely aesthetic; they were designed to promote consumption. Thus, the card functions as a sign within a larger cultural system, reflecting prevailing attitudes towards celebrity, beauty, and consumerism. Ultimately, the meaning of this card is not fixed but is continually renegotiated through its interaction with viewers and its place within the evolving landscape of cultural discourse.