Carrie Behr, Corsair Co., from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 6) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a small card featuring Carrie Behr of the Corsair Co., part of a series of “Actors and Actresses” made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards circulated in the late 19th century, a period marked by rapid industrialization, urbanization, and shifting social norms. During this era, there was an increasing commodification of femininity, and images like this one played into that trend. Actresses, like athletes, were among the first celebrities, their images carefully curated and widely disseminated. Consider how Behr is posed: her gaze demurely lowered, her shoulders bare, framed by an elaborate costume. The image straddles the line between public persona and private allure, reflecting the complex and often contradictory expectations placed on women in the public eye. These cards tell us about the circulation of images, celebrity culture, and the ways in which femininity was packaged and sold. They serve as a reminder of the historical forces that continue to shape our understanding of identity and representation today.