Sadie Kirby, Erminie Co., from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 6) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This albumen silver print of Sadie Kirby was made for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, back when companies used photographs of actresses to promote their wares. The photographic print itself, with its sepia tones and smooth surface, would have been a relatively new technology, an innovative method of mass producing images and popularizing celebrity culture. As for the manufacturing of cigarettes, this was an emerging industry in the late 19th century, relying heavily on the labor of factory workers and tobacco farmers. Looking at this object, we see the convergence of several industries, each relying on its own form of skilled labor and mass production. From the cultivation of tobacco to the artistry of photography, objects like this one invite us to consider the complex web of social and economic relationships that underpin their creation, blurring the lines between art, commerce, and everyday life.