Maud Mullett, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: Here we have a portrait from the Actors and Actresses series of trading cards for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, dating between 1885 and 1891. It's a photograph, part of the Allen & Ginter collection, currently housed at the Met. It's small, like a playing card, and sepia-toned, lending a dreamy effect. What strikes you most about it? Curator: The material context is key here. It's not about individual genius, but about production. These cards weren’t made to be hung in galleries. They were mass-produced commodities included in cigarette packs. This challenges our typical notions of “art” and “craft”. Editor: So, the art lies in the manufacturing and circulation, not just the image itself? Curator: Precisely! Consider the labour involved: from growing and processing the tobacco to designing and printing these cards. And, crucially, their function. They were designed to promote consumerism, specifically tobacco use. Ask yourself, how does the seemingly innocent portrait of Maud Mullett play a role in this larger system of production and consumption? Editor: I see… It’s not just a picture, but an element within a larger marketing strategy, dependent on multiple processes and encouraging specific behavior. Are you suggesting that the aesthetic choices are secondary to the intent of consumption? Curator: The aesthetic is inextricably linked to its function. The allure of Maud Mullett, her perceived beauty and status, serves to enhance the appeal of the Virginia Brights brand. It subtly connects smoking with aspiration and desire. The means of production shaped the content and vice-versa. Editor: It really reframes the image. Seeing it as part of this machine of consumerism makes me consider all the other portraits and images circulating today in the same way. Curator: Exactly! Once we consider the context, every seemingly simple image reveals a far more complex story of labour, materials, and social influence.