Card 470, Maud Branscombe, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This photographic card of Maud Branscombe, one of a series of actors and actresses, was printed by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Branscombe’s profile is framed by her elaborate hairstyle and the soft frills of her dress. The profile view is a form that carries echoes from ancient coins to Renaissance portraiture. What is it about presenting a subject in profile that lends an air of timelessness and authority? We see it repeated throughout history, from Roman emperors to royal consorts. The profile simplifies and idealizes, offering a carefully curated version of the self, like a mask. The very act of choosing such a pose speaks to a deep-seated desire to control one’s image, echoing through centuries of portraiture. This is how Branscombe and the company want you to remember her: frozen in time, a silent icon in an era obsessed with image and fame.