From the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 4) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a cigarette card from the ‘Actors and Actresses’ series by Allen and Ginter. The cards, included in packs of Virginia Brights Cigarettes, reflect the late 19th-century’s fascination with celebrity and the burgeoning consumer culture. These cards occupy an interesting place in both the history of advertising and the representation of women. As the advertisement is targeted to a male audience, the actress is presented as an object of desire. Yet the actress is also a figure of power and agency, embodying the evolving roles of women in society and the entertainment industry. Consider how the actress is styled: her elaborate attire and poised expression. The image subtly suggests a narrative – is it a role, a persona, or a reflection of the actress's true self? The cigarette card captures the complex and often contradictory ways in which women were both celebrated and commodified. It’s a small object that invites us to reflect on larger issues of gender, representation, and consumerism.