Card 423, Miss Whiteman, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card depicting Miss Whiteman, of the Actors and Actresses series, was produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, sometime in the late nineteenth century. These cards were a type of commercial ephemera common in the Gilded Age. The fact that they were distributed with cigarettes gives us insight into the social norms of the period. The image is not just a portrait; it's a carefully constructed representation. Miss Whiteman’s presentation reflects the period's aesthetic preferences and social values, which included both the celebration of feminine beauty and the promotion of consumerism. The culture of celebrity was also on the rise, with actors and actresses gaining widespread recognition. Institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art play a crucial role in preserving and interpreting such artifacts, helping us understand the complex interplay between art, commerce, and society. By studying these cards and their context, we gain a richer understanding of the cultural landscape of nineteenth-century America.