Ema Lorence, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a photograph of Ema Lorence from the Actresses series, made by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It was issued in the United States as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards, popular in the late 19th century, reflect a society grappling with rapid industrialization and urbanization. Photography democratized portraiture, making images of celebrities accessible to a wider audience. This card, like others in the series, participates in the burgeoning culture of celebrity, linking the allure of actresses like Ema Lorence to the consumption of tobacco products. The Kinney Brothers, through their strategic use of imagery, tapped into desires for sophistication and glamour. By distributing these cards, they were essentially curating a collection of desirable images that intertwined with the act of smoking. To understand this image better, we can delve into archives of theatrical history, advertising ephemera, and business records of tobacco companies. Appreciating art involves understanding its place within a network of social, economic, and cultural forces.