May Hanley, Corsair Co., from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 6) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: So this is "May Hanley, Corsair Co.," part of the Actors and Actresses series made for Virginia Brights Cigarettes between 1885 and 1891. It’s a photograph that's been printed, likely as a small card. There's something a bit melancholic about her expression... What jumps out at you when you look at this portrait? Curator: Ah, yes, May Hanley... She's gazing off into the wings, isn't she? This little artifact reminds me of a bygone era – where celebrities were not just faces on screens, but on tobacco cards! These portraits were more than advertisements; they were windows into the Victorian ideal of beauty and fame. The sepia tones imbue the image with nostalgia. Have you noticed the detail in her hat, almost theatrical? It's like a prop hinting at a story, a role she might have played. I see a gentle defiance in her gaze. She wasn't just selling cigarettes; she was selling a dream. Editor: That makes a lot of sense. I was stuck on the cigarette branding, almost overlooking May as a real person, an actor, which has to be appreciated within a specific cultural context. Her eyes project almost an emotional depth; a subtle sadness. Do you think there's commentary on the actor's life, caught between character and persona? Curator: An interesting perspective! It definitely transcends advertising... More a celebration of an actress during the gilded age! The corsair Co would've placed her within a certain level of social cache. Think of it – a fleeting moment captured, mass-produced, and yet imbued with a sense of her presence. In that regard, she isn't an ideal of feminine beauty so much as an early celebrity. We are also peering into a world on the precipice of so much change - industry, social mobility - her gaze contains the promise of an evolving world, or am I just seeing what I want to see? Editor: No, I think you are spot on with this idea that this portrait is more forward-thinking than one initially perceives. I initially had trouble interpreting the hat; however, it now presents a striking yet alluring appeal. I like it when a seemingly superficial work becomes much deeper than imagined! Thanks for opening my eyes.