Marie Wainwright in Venetian Costume of the 16th Century, First Series (N70) for Duke brand cigarettes 1888 - 1889

This small chromolithograph was printed by W. Duke, Sons & Co. as part of a series of collectible cards included in cigarette packs. It depicts Marie Wainwright, a popular late 19th-century actress, in a "Venetian Costume of the 16th Century". These cards were created and circulated during a period of intense industrialization and the rise of consumer culture. The practice of including collectible cards with products, like cigarettes, became a widespread marketing tactic. What's interesting is how these cards, while promoting a product, also catered to and shaped popular notions of beauty, celebrity, and history. Here, Wainwright is presented as an idealized vision of femininity, embodying both historical romanticism and contemporary celebrity culture. The "Venetian Costume" situates her within a narrative of European high society. This speaks volumes about the aspirations and cultural values being promoted at the time. It's fascinating to consider how these ephemeral objects both reflected and influenced the construction of identity and desire in the late 19th century.