Ida Mulle, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

Editor: Let’s explore this albumen print called “Ida Mulle, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes,” created by Goodwin & Company between 1886 and 1890. There's an innocent, almost ethereal quality to this photograph; the sepia tones lend it an antique charm. How do you interpret this work? Curator: It’s essential to consider the object’s purpose – an advertisement for cigarettes. Images like these, part of larger series featuring actresses, weren't merely aesthetic; they were carefully crafted to cultivate a specific kind of consumer, often appealing to desires for status and even fantasies surrounding these actresses. What does Ida Mulle’s posture and expression suggest to you about the role women played in advertising? Editor: I see a vulnerability in her gaze that contrasts with the commercial purpose. She almost seems caught off guard. It's interesting how these images capitalize on celebrity, even then, but also potentially invite a male gaze in a subtle way. Curator: Exactly! And that interplay is key. It touches on power dynamics, gender roles, and the way femininity was commodified and consumed alongside products like cigarettes. What impact could this object have on the viewers during that era and, perhaps, even to a certain extent today? Editor: Thinking about it now, it raises questions about the male gaze in marketing and how that’s changed, or hasn’t, over the past century. It's made me realize how deeply ingrained some of these power dynamics are in visual culture. Curator: And that awareness, that critical lens, is exactly what examining these seemingly simple historical artifacts should inspire. Recognizing that tension allows us to unpack broader conversations about representation, consumerism, and their implications throughout history.