From the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 5) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card was made by Allen & Ginter, and was included in packs of Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards were produced using photolithography, a process that allowed for mass production and distribution. The material itself is paper, humble and disposable, yet it carries an image intended to elevate the brand through association with glamour. The image is of an actress in costume. Notice the level of detail achieved through the printing process, capturing the textures of the fabrics and the actress's features. This was a clever tactic on the part of the company, to create a market for collecting these cards – and buying more cigarettes in the process. These cards speak volumes about the culture of consumption, labor, and the commodification of images. The actress becomes a product, packaged with another product. What was once a personal, handmade, intimate photograph is now a mass-produced, anonymous commodity, bound to advertising. Paying attention to materials and making encourages us to consider the wider economic forces at play.