Mlle. Nordrum, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Allen & Ginter created this small card of Mlle Nordrum as part of a series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Notice the sepia tones that dominate the composition, lending it an air of faded grandeur. The subject, an actress, is framed within the rectangular format, her delicate features and elaborate costume rendered with a soft focus. The symmetrical balance of the composition, with the actress centered, creates a sense of classical order. The patterns in her dress and the ornate details of her accessories are not merely decorative; they function as signifiers of her status and profession. Yet, the subdued palette and intimate scale of the card also speak to a tension between public persona and private image, performance and reality. Consider how the commodification of art and celebrity is presented to us through the interplay of visual elements and cultural codes.