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

This is a trade card of Kate Uart from the Actresses series, created by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. During the late 19th century, trade cards like this one were ubiquitous. Often collected by children, they provide a glimpse into the cultural values and entertainment of the era. Here we see Kate Uart, a stage actress, posing as a fairy. This popular representation suggests the kind of theatrical roles that were celebrated at the time. The image reflects the Victorian obsession with the ethereal and the feminine, while also functioning as advertising. These cards blur the boundaries between art, commerce, and celebrity culture, revealing how images of women were used to sell products and construct ideals of beauty and femininity. What did Kate think about her image being used in this way? Did she have any control over how she was represented? The image prompts us to consider the agency of women in a rapidly changing media landscape.