From the Girls and Children series (N65) promoting Richmond Gem Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1884 - 1891

This small promotional card is from the "Girls and Children" series, created to promote Richmond Gem Cigarettes by Allen & Ginter. These cards were included in cigarette packs, a common advertising tactic of the late 19th century. What strikes me about this image is how it encapsulates the commodification of women, a prevalent aspect of the time. The woman, draped in classical garb, is made to hold a box of cigarettes. This implies an endorsement, directly linking her image with the product, reducing her identity to a marketing tool. We can consider the role of women at the time, confined to domestic roles and ideals of purity, and how this card subtly undermines those constructs by associating them with a then-emerging habit. The gaze and the styling of the figure evoke classical ideals while simultaneously using her to promote a modern product. It's a powerful reminder of the complex ways in which societal expectations and commercial interests intersect.