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

This is a promotional card of Queenie Vassar, from the Actresses series, produced by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. The card is small, measuring about 2 1/2 by 1 7/16 inches, a size that invites close inspection. Notice the sepia tones that dominate the image, creating a soft, almost dreamlike quality. The composition is simple: a portrait of the actress in profile, gazing upwards and to the side. The lighting is diffused, softening the contours of her face and emphasizing her delicate features. The textural qualities are subtle but important. The smooth surface of the card contrasts with the intricate details of Vassar's hairstyle, suggesting a tension between surface and depth. This interplay between texture and tone draws attention to the constructed nature of the image. The photograph asks us to consider the nature of celebrity and representation. It’s a moment captured and commodified, prompting us to reflect on how images circulate and create meaning.