Mlle. Del Ira, Paris, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card, part of Allen & Ginter's series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, presents Mlle. Del Ira of Paris in a staged, theatrical pose. Note how the sepia tones and the photograph's dimensions create an intimate, almost nostalgic viewing experience. Del Ira reclines, hands behind her head, drawing our eye to the ornate patterns of the textile draped behind her. This backdrop competes with the details of her elaborate costume, creating a visually dense composition. Here, the interplay of surface textures and decorative motifs serves not only to depict the actress but also to situate her within a matrix of signs. The cigarette card itself functions as a semiotic device, linking notions of glamour and performance with the act of consumption. It is a cultural artifact reflecting late 19th-century desires and fantasies. Consider how this image captures a fleeting moment, transforming it into a commodity, and how the textures and motifs play with the viewer's perception and understanding of celebrity and desire.