Jennie Webster, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is Jennie Webster, from the Actors and Actresses series of cigarette cards, produced by Allen & Ginter in the late 19th century United States. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs as a marketing strategy, targeting the burgeoning consumer culture of the Gilded Age. The image shows Webster in theatrical costume, reflecting the public's fascination with performers and the rise of celebrity culture. Cigarette card sets like these provide a window into the social values of the time, where commercial interests intersected with popular entertainment. The mass production and distribution of these cards also point to the increasing industrialization and advertising strategies of the era. Researching the archives of tobacco companies and popular theatre history can offer insights into the complex interplay between commerce, entertainment, and social identity in late 19th-century America. The meaning of art is always contingent on social context.