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

This is Irene Verona, a photograph from the Actresses series, made in the United States by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The image provides a fascinating glimpse into the cultural landscape of the late 19th century and the ways in which images of women were consumed. This photograph, mass-produced as a promotional item, reflects the increasing commercialization of entertainment and the growing popularity of actresses as public figures. The pose, the styling, and the very act of circulation through tobacco products speak volumes about the socio-economic context in which this image was created. The institutional history of museums helps us to understand how an object such as this, originally a piece of commercial ephemera, comes to be valued and preserved as a cultural artifact. Understanding this image requires us to examine the social and cultural norms of its time, and to consider the role of institutions in shaping our understanding of art and culture.