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

This is Mae Powers, from the Actresses series, a promotional card created by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. The card, part of a series, presents a sepia-toned image of the actress. The composition emphasizes Powers through soft focus and delicate lighting, typical of photographic portraiture at the time. The monochromatic palette unifies the image, drawing attention to the textures of her dress and the subtle gradations of light and shadow that model her features. The card is small, made for mass distribution. As a collectable, it reflects the emerging culture of celebrity and the intersection of entertainment with consumerism. These cards were designed to promote the company’s cigarettes through the allure of popular actresses, thereby linking the consumption of tobacco with ideals of beauty and success. The visual strategies used in this card—soft focus, flattering lighting, and the appeal of celebrity—reveal how images function as signs within broader cultural narratives. It remains a compelling artifact for its insights into the historical construction of fame, gender, and marketing.