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

Editor: So, this photograph is entitled "Mlle Naya, from the Actresses series," dating back to 1890. It was produced by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes! She’s quite striking, almost otherworldly, with the horn. What does this image evoke in you? Curator: Ah, Mlle Naya! To me, she whispers of fin-de-siècle theatricality and commercial ambition, intertwined in this pocket-sized photograph. Do you see how the sepia tone lends a vintage aura, and how, counterintuitively, the advertisement is not really about cigarettes but about image, about spectacle? The single horn sprouting from her head reminds me a little bit of unicorns but even more, I’m wondering if there's a reference to theatrical depictions of devils or mythological figures? Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't considered the theatrical aspect beyond just a performer being photographed. The horn seemed like a simple costume element to me. Curator: Perhaps, but let’s not underestimate the power of the stage in the late 19th century. Consider her raised hand – she’s gesturing, maybe enticing us into the smoke-filled world of the theater…or, well, encouraging us to buy cigarettes? The beauty of it all is the gentle merging of the world, so real, yet touched by fantasy and industrial goals. And think of the dreams woven for the audience of these little pictures... do you catch that echo? Editor: I do, especially imagining someone collecting these. What a world of imagery and aspiration in a little collection. The photograph being on a card too seems like a commentary in itself! It gives a real tangible essence to it. Curator: Indeed! So many interpretations. Thanks for sharing this with me, and hopefully others too.