M'lle Alencon, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

"M'lle Alencon, 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, created by the tobacco company Allen & Ginter between 1885 and 1891. It depicts a woman identified as "M'lle Alencon" in a simple dress and a crown-like headpiece. The card was part of a larger series of images used to promote Virginia Brights Cigarettes, a popular brand at the time. This artwork, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a fascinating example of the convergence of commerce and popular culture in the 19th century.