Lillian Russell, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

Editor: So, this is a portrait of Lillian Russell, a popular actress, made sometime between 1886 and 1890 by Goodwin & Company. It’s from a series of collectible cards for Old Judge Cigarettes. The subdued sepia tones really give it a sense of bygone elegance. I wonder though, what story can we uncover from this type of portrait in this time? Curator: Oh, this little treasure is more than just sepia tones, darling. Think about it: cigarette cards! Talk about democratizing art. Suddenly, everyone could have a 'portrait' of a star. But what does it mean when art becomes advertisement? Is it still about beauty, or just sales? Goodwin & Company sure knew how to play the game of desire back then. Editor: That’s a great point, I had just considered the beauty aspect. So, did that affect the style of portraiture, this kind of distribution method? Curator: Perhaps! It makes me wonder what choices had to be made in the artistic process because this image also needs to catch your eye amid all the others on the shelf. See how perfectly she's posed? Every detail, the lace, the gaze, meticulously calculated to captivate. And, that ribbon or the note she is holding looks like she is revealing a hidden, but alluring aspect about herself. You almost don't care what's written, but the sense of something secret that can now be known keeps the interest alive. Editor: Hmm, it's a fine line, right? Being aesthetically pleasing but also, as you say, calculated for a commercial purpose. Curator: Exactly! That's the fascinating tension at play here. It's a pretty face, yes, but it’s a brand ambassador too, selling a lifestyle. Does that cheapen the artistry? Or does it amplify its reach, making art accessible to all, even if it's tied to tobacco? What do *you* think? Editor: I think that the discussion makes it accessible. And personally, it’s not always about a compromise of integrity when aiming to attract eyes in a shop. Curator: Absolutely, isn't it all delightfully… smoky?