Cutie Campbell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

Editor: So, this is "Cutie Campbell, from the Actors and Actresses series," made sometime between 1886 and 1890 by Goodwin & Company. It looks like it was made for Old Judge Cigarettes. It’s a small card, sepia-toned and feels quite staged, but there’s something casually rebellious about her pose. What catches your eye about this portrait? Curator: It's that "rebellious" nonchalance, exactly! Makes you wonder about her real personality, doesn't it? These cards were essentially early advertising, pinning down fame, pinning down personality to sell smokes. The sepia tones soften the hard edges of commercialism somewhat. It romanticizes her, yes? As an actress, she’s both present and absent, herself and not herself, do you see? It’s a lovely paradox that reveals more when considering celebrity, portraiture, performance. Editor: Definitely, it feels like a curated persona. The backdrop looks rather plain, almost like a hastily arranged theater set. I didn’t initially consider how intertwined her image was with selling cigarettes. I suppose my view of her has slightly shifted now. Curator: Isn't it funny how context changes everything? These ephemeral objects – trade cards, as they are called – give us these marvelous slivers of insight into popular culture back then. You wouldn’t find anything remotely similar today. Almost makes me miss this period! Now I wish my pictures could be used to sell chocolate bars, or… Editor: Or sustainable socks? Curator: Perhaps! So much better than influencing algorithms… Anyway, I really love how these cigarette cards put stars in everyone’s pocket, a tiny monument, if you will, to fleeting fame. Makes you wonder who else slipped through the cracks of history.