M'lle Cora, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card, featuring M'lle Cora, was created as part of the Actors and Actresses series by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The photograph, mass-produced, served as a collectible insert in cigarette packs, highlighting the intersection of entertainment, advertising, and consumption in the late 19th century. The image is sepia-toned, and this process imbues the portrait with a sense of nostalgia. The card's small size and the choice of medium speak to the industrial processes behind its creation, as well as the wider social issues of labor and capitalism. Cigarettes were a rapidly expanding industry, and these cards were a clever marketing strategy to increase sales. Understanding the materials, making, and context of this card challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft. This emphasizes the importance of looking beyond the image to consider its role within the broader culture of the time.