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

Editor: This is a fascinating artifact: a trade card, "Sadie Cortelyou, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes," dating from the late 19th century. I am struck by the overt commercial tie-in with cigarettes. How can we unpack this image historically? Curator: That’s a very pertinent starting point. The production and circulation of these cards tells us a lot about the social landscape of the time. Cigarette companies often used images of popular figures, like actresses, to market their products and increase sales. It also reflects a growing culture of celebrity and mass media in the late 19th century. Editor: So, it's a form of advertising, almost like a celebrity endorsement. But what's with the military-inspired costume? Curator: Exactly. These images reinforced connections between celebrity, consumption, and social ideals. The military-inspired costume would resonate with nationalistic sentiments that were quite potent during the period. Also, think about what it meant for a woman to adopt masculine coded presentation: it was about self-determination through a visual representation. What kind of consumer habits do you think these implied relationships could influence? Editor: It suggests an association with glamour and sophistication, even power. By buying these cigarettes, you're buying into that aspirational lifestyle. I didn't even realize the political nature of cigarette card! Curator: It is the confluence of advertising, performance, and cultural messaging that provides us rich territory. Now, if one looks deeper, it raises questions of gender and public roles as well. Editor: This makes me see how images are intertwined with cultural forces and economic drivers, definitely. Thank you for elucidating how they played into each other! Curator: My pleasure!