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

Curator: Oh, this one has such a theatrical flair. The image is called "Madge Lessing, from the Actresses series," printed around 1890 by Kinney Brothers. They were promoting their Sweet Caporal Cigarettes with these, a little slice of Victorian-era celebrity culture. What do you think, straight off the bat? Editor: Immediately, it’s the pose—so poised, yet undeniably coy. And the lighting! It feels almost like a staged performance captured mid-act. I sense a tension between artifice and perhaps, a forbidden allure, which considering it was meant for cigarette packets, is perhaps no accident. Curator: Absolutely. These albumen prints, tucked into cigarette packs, made actresses accessible to a broad public, though arguably in a controlled, commodified way. It is interesting, this form of erotic art using celebrity portrait. Editor: It’s fascinating to think of it in that light—celebrity worship meets mass marketing, all filtered through the lens, quite literally, of burgeoning consumer culture. Lessing, the actress, becomes an object, a symbol... of what exactly? Curator: Of aspiration, maybe? Or rebellion, in a way? Actresses at that time occupied a slightly subversive space. By purchasing those cigarettes, people bought into a world of perceived glamour and freedom, even if fleetingly. The historical context—how societal norms influence these images—is crucial, isn't it? Editor: Absolutely. This small portrait speaks volumes. It’s not just about a pretty face; it's about how beauty, fame, and commerce intertwined in the late 19th century. The theatre was a great locus of social possibility. I wonder who bought those cigarettes, though, young bucks trying to emulate masculinity? Women enjoying transgression in public? Curator: Likely both, and everyone in between. And it prompts the question: What would Madge Lessing herself have thought of this mass dissemination of her image? It is definitely one way to be remembered and considered even to this day. Editor: Indeed. I'm still caught up in that careful composition, with its calculated yet seductive pose. It is truly a perfect blend of business and art! Curator: A Victorian entanglement of art and commerce that’s more complex than one might think. Thanks for walking through this with me. Editor: My pleasure, It’s fascinating how something so small can illuminate so much!