Margaret Cohn, from the Actresses and Celebrities series (N60, Type 1) promoting Little Beauties Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1887

This is a promotional card for Little Beauties Cigarettes, part of Allen & Ginter's Actresses and Celebrities series. The sepia tone imparts a sense of antiquity, while the subject is Margaret Cohn, framed by a window. The composition here establishes a clear foreground, middle ground and background. Our view into the scene is mediated through this window, which acts as a frame. The framing isolates Margaret Cohn, emphasizing her as the focal point. The structure of the image, with its emphasis on framing and layering, creates a sense of depth. On a structural level, the card juxtaposes the actress with the commodity she's endorsing. This tension between art and commerce raises questions about value and representation. The "Little Beauties" slogan isn't just about the cigarettes; it subtly aligns the actress with the product, suggesting that beauty itself can be commodified. This interplay destabilizes the conventional boundaries.