Mlle. Rordame, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

Editor: Here we have a portrait from 1890 entitled "Mlle. Rordame," part of the Actresses series by the Kinney Brothers, made to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The photograph, likely also a print, presents a staged persona. What strikes me is the crown—it feels heavy with meaning, but what does it signify here? Curator: That crown is indeed loaded. We see it as a symbol of power, traditionally royalty. But in this image, intended for mass consumption through cigarette cards, that symbolism is being cleverly recontextualized. It’s not just about power, but about aspiration and fantasy. Ask yourself, who wore crowns at this time? Editor: Well, Queens and Empresses… but mostly in other countries and certainly not the average American. Curator: Precisely! The crown, paired with the actress's gaze, creates an aspirational figure that speaks to the consumer: you too can participate in a world of glamour, even through a simple cigarette. The iconography is accessible, linking everyday habit with theatrical, imagined heights. Note the Japanese influence also in the stylized rendition. Do you notice it too? Editor: Yes! I do see now Japonisme with the somewhat flat perspective and decorative pattern of her dress. So, is this consumer product borrowing cultural memory and twisting it for profit? Curator: Indeed. Consider this – in what other ways does advertising deploy symbols to make people associate products with deeply-held desires? What does it tell us about those desires? Editor: It is fascinating how seemingly simple images carry so much cultural and psychological weight. This makes me want to explore the hidden meanings behind everyday visuals! Curator: Absolutely, and remember the best symbols work because they build upon cultural knowledge to trigger deeply felt emotions and shared social meanings.