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

Editor: This is "Miss Bremster," a promotional print from between 1886 and 1890, by Goodwin & Company, part of their Actors and Actresses series for Old Judge Cigarettes. It's… interesting. A sort of idealized portrait, yet it’s also an advertisement. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: Well, the fact that she is selling cigarettes already gives a sense of societal change. What I see is a symbolic layering – the performative identity of an actress, Miss Bremster, conflated with the aspirational lifestyle marketed by Old Judge. Her downcast gaze, that hint of vulnerability, clashes intriguingly with the bold advertisement emblazoned below. Almost melancholic. Do you think that adds to it? Editor: Definitely, there is a fragility. The lace shawl seems like a protective barrier, yet her neckline is daring for the time. It is all such a mix of messages! Is the “Old Judge” brand itself trying to say something with her image? Curator: Precisely. The "Old Judge" name evokes ideas of authority and discernment, qualities they wish to associate with their product. She, the actress, becomes a symbol of that sophistication. Ask yourself: What emotional chord are they trying to strike in the viewer by associating her image with their product? Does it feel manipulative at all to you? Editor: Absolutely. It is all starting to come together…the company appropriating Bremster's reputation to sway customers, implying a level of prestige for a cigarette brand. It's quite brilliant, yet morally questionable. Curator: It highlights how imagery shapes desires and sells more than just the immediate object. The past reveals such uncomfortable truths! Editor: It certainly does. I will never look at advertising the same way again. Curator: Nor I!