Card 745, Maggie Arlington, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: This is a portrait card titled "Card 745, Maggie Arlington, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes" made sometime between 1885 and 1891. It combines drawing, photography and printmaking techniques. I'm really struck by the intimate feeling of this small piece. What can you tell me about its making and context? Curator: Well, think about the convergence here: tobacco, mass media, and celebrity. This card wasn't just a picture; it was a byproduct, almost disposable, included in cigarette packs. Allen & Ginter were masterminds, using images of popular actresses to fuel consumer desire. Editor: So it’s all about the appeal and what that reveals about the culture consuming it. Curator: Precisely. It speaks volumes about the intersection of leisure, labor, and aspiration in the late 19th century. Maggie Arlington's image was essentially a commodity, mass-produced to drive sales of Virginia Brights. How does that industrial process change how you perceive the 'art' of it? Editor: That does change things. Seeing it as a commodity transforms my appreciation and understanding of it. Curator: This isn’t high art designed to sit in a gallery. It's tied directly to industrial processes, labor practices, and marketing strategies. Think about the unseen hands involved in creating these cards – photographers, printers, factory workers. Editor: Right, all the material means. It forces us to think critically about consumption and its role in shaping cultural values and image making. Thank you, that’s really given me a new appreciation. Curator: And hopefully, you’ve now got an expanded sense of where ‘art’ resides!