Lillian Kennedy, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Curator: This is a piece titled "Lillian Kennedy, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes," created between 1885 and 1891 by Allen & Ginter. It's currently housed here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These were essentially trade cards, distributed with cigarette packs. Editor: Trade cards! I love that—ephemeral treasures. She has a real pensiveness in her expression, sitting on that faux rock, gazing slightly off. It's more compelling than your typical advertisement. She is lovely, really striking, and so confidently at ease. It does make me want to buy the pack! Curator: The whole point, exactly. What’s interesting is how the tobacco companies leveraged celebrity endorsements. This era was really forming ideas of celebrity. Lillian Kennedy was a popular actress, and associating her image with a brand conferred status, however falsely. Editor: Status in the hands of anyone lighting up. The composition almost looks staged— theatrical in that sense. That feathered hat and what appears to be a riding crop gives an assertive look to her overall composure. This card is all performance. I see how cleverly it's constructed; it transcends simple advertising. Curator: It's all tightly managed. Look at the material reality of the card: photograph, drawing, and printmaking techniques all coalescing to produce a collectible item. This speaks to a changing culture with photography on the rise and mass print production entering its stride. There's an undercurrent of consumerism, a shift in social values all at play here. Editor: I am enjoying the tonal quality— that sepia wash. So delicate but effective. It all enhances this strange nostalgic appeal that a card like this generates for a bygone world. Curator: Indeed, an appealing window into late 19th-century commerce and entertainment. These cards documented not just actresses like Kennedy but also popular sports figures, solidifying the burgeoning celebrity culture. Editor: For me, seeing the casual elegance juxtaposed against that slightly absurd backdrop speaks volumes about aspiration. I feel strangely connected to this image of Lillian. So interesting. Curator: An astute point. Editor: Definitely leaves a distinct imprint in mind.