Maud Waldemere, Corsair Co./ Fannie Batchelder/ Clara Davenport/ Laura Curtis, Corsair Co., from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 4) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card, made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, is from the Actors and Actresses series. Its composition is divided into four distinct quadrants, each framing a portrait of a woman. The sepia tone unifies the card, yet the subjects' varied poses and adornments introduce a play of contrasting forms. Notice the upper quadrants, where Maud Waldemere and Fannie Batchelder are presented. Waldemere is adorned with an elaborate, dark headpiece, which provides a strong contrast to the lighter tones of her face and dress. The eye is drawn into this relationship between light and dark, and further enhanced by the precise linear elements in the portraits below. The structure of this card, beyond its function as advertisement, reveals an exploration of form and presentation. The women are transformed into objects of visual consumption. This tension between art, commerce, and representation invites viewers to reflect on the cultural codes that shape our perceptions.