From the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 5) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This albumen silver print, from the Actors and Actresses series, was produced in the United States by Allen and Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards were a commercial strategy to promote products by including images of popular figures. This particular image is interesting in that it presents a performer in what was likely stage attire. The theatrical setting suggests an emphasis on spectacle, which would have been a popular form of entertainment at the time. The object's existence as part of a series issued by a cigarette company is important. It tells us that this performer's image was a commodity, used to enhance the appeal of another commodity. What does it mean for individuals to have their likenesses reproduced and circulated in this way? What were the ethical implications? These are the questions that social and cultural historians can help to answer. We can examine the archives of the company, as well as conduct biographical research into the actress herself, to more fully understand the culture surrounding this image.