Geraldine Ulmer, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

Editor: This is "Geraldine Ulmer, from the Actors and Actresses series" made by Goodwin & Company between 1886 and 1890. It's an albumen print, which is fascinating! There's something very staged about it – and because it’s linked to cigarette advertising, there’s also a blatant attempt at promoting beauty ideals of the time. What are your thoughts about it? Curator: It's an insightful point. It's interesting to consider how these images circulated, contributing to the construction of celebrity and femininity within a burgeoning consumer culture. The "Actors and Actresses series" for Old Judge Cigarettes speaks volumes about the commodification of image and identity in the late 19th century. It seems harmless at first glance, but when we look closer, it invites us to ask, how was femininity being sold and consumed? Editor: That's a powerful way of looking at it! So, is the fact that it's used to sell cigarettes more than just a historical fact? Curator: Absolutely. Consider the historical context: women's roles were heavily prescribed, and advertising actively shaped and reinforced these roles. Here, Geraldine Ulmer, a stage actress, becomes a vehicle for selling cigarettes, merging notions of aspiration, performance, and consumption. Where does Ulmer's agency lie within this image? Is she participating in or being subjected to this narrative? Editor: So, it's about understanding who holds the power and who is being objectified, right? And how advertising plays into that even now. Curator: Precisely. By examining this image critically, we can understand advertising isn't just about selling products. It's involved in a much broader socio-political landscape and shapes our perceptions of identity, gender, and value. Editor: That’s a perspective I hadn't considered. Seeing it that way gives me a whole new understanding. Thank you! Curator: And thank you for raising such important questions. It is in dialogue and critical inquiry that we disrupt and re-envision established narratives and construct more equitable futures.