Lydie Barel, Des Bouffes, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Allen & Ginter produced this card of Lydie Barel as part of a series called "Actors and Actresses" to be included in packs of Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The late 19th century saw the rise of celebrity culture and mass marketing. Here, the popular French actress Lydie Barel, known for her performances in comic operas, embodies the intersection of entertainment and commerce. The image presents a romanticized, almost ethereal vision of femininity. Barel is adorned in a light-colored dress with floral embellishments, holding a cane, which was a common accessory for women of the time. The cigarette card aesthetic served not only to promote a product, but also to project aspirational images tied to luxury, beauty, and success. Such cards provide insight into the construction of identity and gender roles of that era. Barel's image, mass-produced and distributed, helped shape perceptions and expectations of women in society. It's a reminder of how much those idealized images were intertwined with the promotion of a particular lifestyle and commodity.