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

Curator: This sepia-toned print is one of the “Actresses” series, produced in 1890 by Kinney Brothers to promote their Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The portrait is of Amy Wells. Editor: You know, she looks like she's lost in a daydream. There's this dreamy softness about the image; the way the light kind of catches in her hair makes me feel nostalgic, almost like peering into someone's memory. Curator: It’s fascinating to consider how these trade cards intersected with burgeoning celebrity culture. Kinney Brothers tapped into the fame of actresses like Amy Wells to elevate their brand, participating in what we might now term “influencer” marketing, but framed within the dynamics of the late 19th century’s visual economy. Editor: Influencer marketing in the 1890s! Can you imagine? But I see your point. It’s also strange to think about a portrait of a woman being used to sell cigarettes; what was the perceived connection? Curator: That is where the intersectionality of the image becomes evident. Female performers represented aspirational figures; embodying the changing roles and ideals of womanhood at a pivotal moment. Kinney Brothers utilized these complex associations. We need to understand how notions of beauty and fame were being commodified alongside the product. Editor: It’s clever marketing. But it seems strange to link smoking to a beautiful portrait. What message do you think Kinney Brothers was hoping to convey? It does feel very different from the types of ads that you see nowadays! Curator: Indeed! These cards, while seemingly innocuous, subtly weave together consumerism, celebrity, and gender expectations, prompting a broader reflection on their deeper implications. The portraits represent both visibility and vulnerability of women in the public eye. Editor: Well, thinking about how they're framed inside the wider world helps you consider it differently. Thank you! I initially perceived it only as a photograph, yet now, its purpose and meaning have come to light. Curator: Precisely. Examining these artworks can reveal larger cultural frameworks operating beyond the frame.