Alice of Old Vincennes, from the Actresses series (T1), distributed by the American Tobacco Co. to promote Turkish Trophies Cigarettes 1900

Curator: This lovely portrait is part of a series promoting Turkish Trophies Cigarettes, dating from around 1900. It features "Alice of Old Vincennes" portrayed by the actress Virginia Harned. Editor: It's very delicate. The pastel washes give it such a soft, dreamlike quality. And her gaze... it's so wistful, almost melancholic. Curator: These promotional images were really interesting. Cigarette companies understood how to use popular culture to reach a wide audience. Showing popular actresses connected to a cultural phenomenon like this novel suggests associations with high culture. Editor: Right, this character "Alice" taps into ideas of female virtue and patriotic devotion, doesn't she? We see the bonnet, the floral dress, it projects such gentility. Is she holding a book? It certainly conveys knowledge and respectability. It speaks to a whole set of social values. Curator: Exactly. And look at the details - the American Tobacco Company distributed this print, seeking to intertwine tobacco consumption with the image of a cultured, modern woman who embraces artistic representations. But of course, we're not intended to dwell on the real health impacts. Editor: The flowers seem symbolic. They’re forget-me-nots I believe, which is quite telling, no? Their association with love and remembrance lends this advertisement a deeply nostalgic tone, encouraging an idealized vision. A carefully designed campaign to encourage purchases. Curator: Precisely. So, an item like this sits right at the intersection of art, commerce and cultural identity. These popular images normalized behaviours and aspirations during a time of really profound social change. Editor: Seeing it like this gives me so much to reflect on. The convergence of commerce, symbolism, and social aspirations really stands out. It has this deceptive surface of softness concealing calculated commercial messaging! Curator: Indeed, It serves as a fascinating example of how societal values were used to endorse a lifestyle back then.