Card 924, Miss Williamson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a card from the Actors and Actresses series made by Allen & Ginter, printed on paper and distributed with Virginia Brights Cigarettes. At the time, tobacco companies used these cards as a marketing strategy, tucked into packs to stiffen them and entice consumers. The sepia tone gives the card a sense of nostalgia, a window into a bygone era, but it's also a result of the printing process. These cards were mass-produced, relying on industrial techniques of lithography and image transfer, a far cry from the unique, handmade works we often associate with art. The image, while seemingly simple, speaks volumes about the culture of the time. Miss Williamson, a performer, becomes a commodity, her image used to sell cigarettes. It highlights the entanglement of entertainment, advertising, and consumerism. It makes you think about the labor involved, not just of the actress, but of the factory workers who churned out these cards en masse. So next time you light up, consider the complex web of materials, making, and social context that went into even the simplest of everyday objects.