Ulmer, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This cabinet card, from the "Actors and Actresses" series, depicts actress Ulmer. Created by Goodwin & Company between 1886 and 1890, the card is a striking example of late 19th-century portraiture and commercial advertising. The image, likely taken for Old Judge Cigarettes, captures Ulmer in a theatrical pose, dressed in a costume that hints at a role she may have played. The card's simple yet elegant design, with the artist's name and the cigarette brand prominently displayed, showcases the evolving relationship between art and commerce during the Gilded Age. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York currently houses this piece.