Mlle. Bedame, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

"Mlle. Bedame, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes" is a carte-de-visite, a type of small photograph popular in the 19th century. This particular card features a portrait of the actress Mlle. Bedame, likely taken between 1885 and 1891. The image is a black and white photograph, likely a cabinet card, showing Mlle. Bedame in a theatrical pose, holding a fan. The card was produced as a promotional piece for Virginia Brights cigarettes, highlighting the growing popularity of using celebrity images for advertising purposes. The card, which is now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, provides a glimpse into the world of 19th-century theater and the evolving landscape of advertising.