Daisy Boynton, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small photograph of Daisy Boynton was produced by the American tobacco company Allen & Ginter as part of an advertising series. These cards, inserted into cigarette packs, offered consumers appealing images of actresses and actors. The late nineteenth century saw a boom in commercial photography and mass media. This card is an example of how images began circulating through new channels of distribution, transforming the public role of art. The images are carefully staged and lit, revealing the cultural references and social conventions through which an actress like Daisy Boynton created her persona. A certain playful innocence is captured here. Yet, this apparently carefree image was made for the express purpose of marketing a highly addictive substance. To fully understand the social life of images like this, we need to do some digging in institutional and commercial archives. What was Daisy Boynton famous for? What else was Allen & Ginter advertising at the time? The answers to these questions help us see this image as more than just a pretty picture.