Plate 9, from the Fans of the Period series (N7) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands 1889

Plate 9, from the Fans of the Period series, was created by Allen & Ginter for cigarette brands. These cards, like many of the era, provide a window into the cultural values and social norms of the late 19th century. Here, we see a white woman adorned in finery, a symbol of wealth and status. The fan itself, both an accessory and a statement, speaks to the rituals of courtship and social interaction. But consider the absence of women of color in these depictions. These cards offer a vision of femininity that is distinctly white and upper-class, revealing the racial and economic biases embedded in the production of culture. What stories are left untold? What experiences are rendered invisible by these narrow representations? It reminds us that the images we consume are never neutral, they actively shape our perceptions of ourselves and others.