Margaret Mather, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: This is a portrait of Margaret Mather from the "Actors and Actresses" series, published between 1885 and 1891 as a promotional item for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. It's fascinating how something so functional, like a cigarette card, could feature such an intriguing image of a prominent actress. What symbols or cultural references do you see at play in this portrait? Curator: Notice the careful staging. The theatrical costume, including what looks like a jaunty cap and doublet, is meticulously rendered even on this small scale. The actress herself is holding a prop, perhaps a staff or the hilt of a sword. This isn't just a picture of Margaret Mather; it's a deliberate construction of her persona. Editor: So, it's not simply a portrait, but also a performance, even within the still image. Curator: Exactly! Think about what she represents as an actress during this period. The photograph serves as a sort of shorthand. It speaks to the aspirational desires of the public, who see in her not just a woman, but a character, an ideal, and, quite frankly, access to a world beyond their own. Her expression alone is open to myriad readings. Is she melancholic? Powerful? Editor: I see what you mean. The combination of her expression and costume does seem loaded with symbolism, designed to evoke specific emotions and ideas within the viewer. Does this image perpetuate stereotypes or challenge them? Curator: Ah, now you are asking the million-dollar question! These kinds of images often straddle that line. It's interesting that it comes with cigarettes, a modern product. Does this portrait borrow from, or inform, earlier representational traditions? The deliberate linking of beauty, celebrity, and consumerism becomes so blatant here. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It's interesting to consider the cigarette card itself as a symbol, a tangible connection to a desirable image, promising perhaps a taste of that world. Thank you for expanding my perspective on how this portrait operates culturally. Curator: My pleasure. Considering how objects such as these acquire layers of meaning over time makes them all the more potent.