Card 56, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 5) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a small card that was made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. It's part of a series called 'Actors and Actresses'. The figure, likely a white actress in costume, is posed in what was considered a Japanese style. It reflects the fascination with Japanese culture that swept the United States in the late 19th century. This interest was largely shaped by international expositions, trade, and the display of Japanese artifacts in museums. This card reveals the complex relationship between entertainment, commerce, and cultural appropriation during this period. The image of the actress performing Japaneseness was used to market cigarettes, commodifying cultural identity for profit. Historical research, including studies of advertising, theater, and cultural exchange, can help us understand the social and institutional forces behind this image. This is an example of the ways in which art is contingent on social and institutional context.