Annie Summerville, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This is Annie Summerville from the Actors and Actresses series, a promotional trading card distributed by Old Judge Cigarettes, likely produced in the late 19th century by Goodwin & Company. These cards, seemingly innocent, reveal much about the commodification of celebrity and the role of women in burgeoning consumer culture. Summerville, a stage actress, becomes an object of desire, not just for her talent, but for her image, which is used to sell cigarettes, subtly reinforcing societal expectations of women as ornamental figures. Notice how her gaze is directed away, suggesting modesty, while her features are idealized. This image exists within a larger context of advertising that both reflected and shaped gender and class dynamics. It reminds us to consider the power of images in constructing identity and perpetuating stereotypes, even in the most unassuming of places.