Verona Jarbeau, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: So, this is "Verona Jarbeau, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes," created by Allen & Ginter sometime between 1885 and 1891. It’s a small print, and there’s something about the sepia tone and her confident pose that’s both glamorous and a bit old-fashioned. What catches your eye in this image? Curator: What I see here is a carefully constructed image intended to evoke certain ideas,certain values, transmitted through the ages by repeated imagery. Take, for instance, the costume itself. Does it seem historically accurate, or more like a theatrical fantasy? Editor: I think it leans towards theatrical fantasy. It feels more like a stage costume than something someone would actually wear. Curator: Exactly! That shield on her chest, that feathered cap—they pull from a romanticized medieval past. What does that staged “history” suggest in the context of late 19th century advertising? Consider this was produced to be inserted in a package of cigarettes. Editor: Hmmm… maybe it's trying to associate the brand with a sense of tradition and sophistication, while also hinting at adventure and bravery? A potent recipe for an appealing fantasy? Curator: Precisely. These symbols are not accidental. They tap into deeply rooted cultural associations, creating a visual shorthand that conveys meaning instantly to the consumer. It also tells us a great deal about societal desires at the time. This "woman as knight" challenges traditional views. The photograph captures the viewer by disrupting expectations. What do you make of her confident, maybe defiant expression, given that subversion? Editor: It definitely adds another layer. The cigarette company wants to play with those associations while selling their product. Curator: Indeed. This small card holds a complex web of cultural signifiers, revealing how even something as simple as a cigarette advertisement can reflect our collective desires, values, and fantasies about the past, the present, and especially about the future. Editor: It's amazing to think how much meaning can be packed into a small promotional image. I’ll definitely look at advertisements differently now.