Card 405, Belle Brush, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card featuring Belle Brush was made by Allen & Ginter, printed for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. It’s part of a series of collectible cards depicting actors and actresses. Cards like these were very popular in the late 19th century, particularly in America where the post-Civil War economy promoted mass-produced goods. Tobacco companies used them as a marketing tool. But the cards also reflect a growing fascination with celebrity culture. They provide a glimpse into the social values and popular entertainment of the time, as theatre became an increasingly prominent form of leisure. Brush is shown wearing elaborate garb, leaning coyly on a carved wooden partition. The design speaks to the rise of consumer culture, and the growing visibility of women in the public sphere. Looking into theatrical archives and biographical sources can tell us more about Belle Brush herself. Examining marketing history reveals the strategies and effects of this kind of advertising. Approaching art from a point of social and institutional context helps us to appreciate its complex position in history.