Joli Gilles, Paris, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This lithograph of two actors, from a series by Allen & Ginter, was originally distributed as a promotional item for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Here we see two performers, identified as “Joli Gilles, Paris”, gazing intently at one another. The woman sits demurely on a bench, whilst her male counterpart leans in, his body angled towards her. There is something inherently staged about the scene; their costumes are theatrical, and the backdrop appears artificial. The ‘Actors and Actresses’ series tapped into a late nineteenth-century fascination with celebrity culture. Cigarette cards like this one offered ordinary consumers access to the glamorous lives of stage performers, fostering a sense of intimacy with public figures. To fully understand these kinds of images, historians often delve into archives of popular culture, theatre history, and advertising. By examining the social and economic context in which these cards were produced and consumed, we can gain valuable insights into the cultural values and aspirations of the period.