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

This is a promotional photograph of Mae Powers, part of the Actresses series produced by Kinney Brothers for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The sepia tone imparts a sense of nostalgia, immediately connecting us to a bygone era. The composition is rigidly symmetrical, with Powers centered between two chairs, suggesting a formal and constructed presentation of femininity. This symmetry, however, is softened by the slight tilt of her head and the flowing lines of her dress, creating a dynamic tension between control and spontaneity. The photograph operates within a semiotic system of signs, where Powers' attire and pose signify ideals of beauty and performance. The deliberate construction of the image, from pose to backdrop, highlights how identity is not merely found but actively crafted. It is a visual text reflecting the cultural values and commercial interests of its time. This tension between the authentic and the constructed remains relevant to contemporary debates about identity and representation.