Lotta, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This black and white photograph, "Lotta", is part of the "Actresses series" (N245) created by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in 1890 to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The portrait captures the likeness of a young woman, likely a popular actress of the time, named Lotta, wearing a patterned blouse and a delicate necklace. The photograph is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY, and measures a modest 2 1/2 × 1 7/16 inches. These collectible cards exemplify the use of celebrity endorsements in advertising during the late 19th century, demonstrating the cultural shift towards a more mass-market consumption of goods.