Mae Powers, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a promotional image of Mae Powers from the Actresses series by Kinney Brothers, issued to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards emerged during an era defined by burgeoning consumer culture and the rise of celebrity. Consider the layers of representation at play here: Mae Powers, a performer, is captured to promote a lifestyle choice, smoking. These cards were a form of social currency, reflecting and shaping desires and aspirations. It suggests something of the cultural performance expected of women during this period. Her gaze and pose carry an emotional weight; a tension between accessibility and the distance of fame. What does it mean to commodify identity? These images served as both mirrors and aspirational tools, reflecting society's values while shaping individual identity through commerce and desire.