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

Curator: Let’s have a look at this portrait of Kittie Mitchell, created around 1890 by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It’s from a series of albumen prints they made, distributing them in packs of Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It’s remarkably charming. The albumen print gives the image a warm, almost sepia tone that emphasizes the graceful lines of her pose and the folds of her skirt as she twirls. There's an elegance in the composition. Curator: Elegance intended to sell tobacco, no less. The Kinney Brothers were shrewd in capitalizing on the burgeoning cult of celebrity. Actresses like Kittie Mitchell, captured in these images, became highly sought-after promotional tools. This commodification helped spread their fame. Editor: Absolutely. And considering its function, the visual choices are very compelling. The sharp focus on the subject contrasts with the slightly blurred background, creating depth and emphasizing Kittie Mitchell's performance. Her coy smile is quite captivating, as is the balance struck with her dress being partially extended. Curator: Consider, too, the historical context. Cigarette cards offered everyday consumers access to idealized figures, often actresses or performers. In this format, Kittie Mitchell gains a tactile reality, transforming from stage performer to pocket-sized collectible, thus normalizing her role in the daily routines of everyday citizens. Editor: A curious thing. I also see how the texture of the paper influences our experience; the smooth sheen makes the print seem almost tangible, inviting a closer look at the subject’s delicate features and outfit. It is more intimate this way, for sure. Curator: Exactly! This work speaks to the fascinating intersection of commerce, celebrity, and material culture in the late 19th century, when companies eagerly invested in this new celebrity portrait format to reach increasingly wide consumer audiences. Editor: A convergence of function and form that makes me appreciate all the nuances the print captures. Its lines and light, taken within its setting as advertisement, are fascinating when studied more deeply.