Lillian Russell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This is "Lillian Russell," a promotional card from the Actors and Actresses series for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes, created around the turn of the century by Goodwin & Company. The sepia-toned card presents a portrait of the famous actress, its muted palette rendering a soft, almost dreamlike quality. The artist uses line and form to create a visual hierarchy: the vertical stripes of Russell's corset draw the eye upwards, accentuating her poised figure. Note how the composition frames her within the confines of the card, yet her gaze extends beyond, engaging the viewer. The material quality of the card itself – its size and texture – speaks to a culture of mass production and consumption. Here, the formal qualities of the portrait intersect with broader cultural codes of celebrity and commodification. The image is not just a representation, but a signifier of Russell's fame, and its existence as a cigarette card challenges fixed meanings of art, celebrity, and consumer culture.