Vernona Jarbeau, from World's Beauties, Series 2 (N27) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This is a chromolithograph of Vernona Jarbeau, from World's Beauties, Series 2 (N27) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes. The composition is strikingly simple: a head-and-shoulders portrait set against a neutral backdrop. The eye is drawn to the subject's face, framed by soft, curling hair that cascades around her visage. The delicate balance of light and shadow gives the image a three-dimensional quality, enhancing its sense of realism. The formal construction of this portrait also hints at larger cultural codes at play. The subtle use of color – a muted palette of creams, pinks, and browns – evokes a sense of refinement and elegance, reinforcing the subject's status as one of the “World's Beauties.” It challenges fixed meanings in a sense, through the use of beauty to sell a commercial product. Ultimately, the artwork’s formal qualities underscore its function within a complex semiotic system, one where beauty, commerce, and representation intersect. The image exists as both a depiction of an individual and a signifier of broader social values.