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

Editor: So, here we have "Marie Reid, from the Actresses series," created around 1890 by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It's a print, but it's based on a photograph. The sepia tone and upward gaze create such a dreamy, wistful feeling. What do you see in it? Curator: You know, it whispers to me of fleeting moments and the pursuit of unattainable dreams, filtered through a lens of early photographic techniques. Back then, promotional cards like this were little windows into the glamorous world of the stage. But beyond the commercial aspect, notice how the artist captures not just Marie Reid’s likeness but also this sort of aspirational aura, right? It's almost as if she's looking toward the possibilities, the what-ifs. Don't you think there's a lovely, melancholy tenderness about it? Editor: Absolutely. It's like a paused breath, right before she steps onto the stage. The slight blurring of the image only heightens that sense of fragility and bygone beauty. The line of her throat is striking, the curve seems to invite contemplation. Did she choose to gaze upwards like that? Curator: Perhaps. Or perhaps the photographer knew exactly the pose to elicit. What strikes me, truly, is the pre-Photoshop world it depicts. It’s about suggesting rather than dictating. Now, what about her presentation speaks to you about her time? Editor: Well, her hairstyle for one, with those soft curls, but it's more about the overall delicacy and subtle color palette. It feels very romantic and ethereal, maybe even a bit staged? Curator: Staged, certainly. It's selling you more than just an actress, isn't it? The tobacco becomes synonymous with glamour. I think these kinds of pieces really do give us such delicious breadcrumbs of the past. What I'll remember most from this is not only this photograph but what the photograph suggests. Editor: Definitely! It’s incredible how much context and emotion can be conveyed through such a small, simple image. I am always stunned that Tobacco companies would produce what is effectively portraiture!