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

This is a promotional image of Mignon Villars, printed by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as part of the Actresses series. The late 19th century was an era of burgeoning consumer culture. This convergence of entertainment and advertising reflects the evolving role of women in the public eye, and also perhaps the increasing visibility and agency of actresses like Villars, who occupied a unique position in society. In these images, actresses were often styled in ways that accentuated their beauty and charm, adhering to conventional standards of femininity, while simultaneously carving out space for themselves in an emerging commercial landscape. These images blur the lines between performer, commodity, and consumer, inviting us to consider the complex negotiations of identity and representation that shaped the lives and careers of women in the late 19th century.