Nellie Page, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This small card featuring Nellie Page comes from a series of actresses issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards, like many others produced in the late 19th century in the United States, reveal a fascinating intersection of commerce, celebrity, and visual culture. Consider the politics of imagery at the time. The popular actresses, like Nellie Page, became objects of mass consumption, their images circulated widely through these promotional cards. This was a time when the burgeoning advertising industry was finding new ways to reach consumers, and these cards offered a cheap and effective means of doing so. But beyond their commercial function, they also reflect the social conditions that shaped artistic production. The actresses, elevated to celebrity status through their performances, were further commodified by the tobacco industry. Understanding these dynamics requires us to delve into archives, newspapers, and other historical sources to understand the complex interplay between art, commerce, and society. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.