M'lle Oqueralli, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: This is "M'lle Oqueralli," a print, a pencil drawing really, from the "Actors and Actresses" series by Allen & Ginter, dating from around 1885-1891. It's remarkably simple, almost like a faded photograph. It has the quality of memory...soft. What do you see in it? Curator: Beyond the immediate delicacy of the portrait, I see the yearning for immortalization. Think about it. An actress, a fleeting performer, captured within the reproducible format of a cigarette card. It's a commercial object attempting to hold a fragile, artistic essence. Do you notice the implications? Editor: You mean, like, the mass-produced versus the unique? And the inherent ephemerality of a cigarette card contrasted with the enduring power of portraiture? Curator: Precisely. It's the ritualistic aspect of consumption—smoking—combined with the desire to possess a piece of celebrity, a connection to a performer's talent. The portrait itself becomes a talisman, imbued with the hopes and dreams of the consumer. Consider also the almost classical profile – its clean line connects to traditional virtues. Editor: So it's like the cigarette company is selling not just tobacco, but also access to this aspirational world of theater and artistry, a symbolic brush with fame itself. Curator: Exactly. Each card, distributed within a pack, offers a momentary engagement with this cultural memory. But the fact that we are observing it now speaks about enduring meaning. Editor: That's fascinating. It gives new meaning to the idea of holding history in your hand. Curator: Indeed. The layered meanings behind a seemingly simple commercial image.