Ida Mulle, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This tiny card was made by Goodwin & Company, around the turn of the 20th century, for insertion in packs of Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. It’s a photographic print, made through industrial processes for mass consumption – a far cry from traditional artistic media. The image is printed on thin paper stock, which would have been churned out in huge quantities. Its sepia tone results from a chemical process, which was relatively new at the time. The process imbued the photo with a nostalgic feel, even when new. These cards were essentially promotional ephemera, designed to be collected and traded. They offer a glimpse into the celebrity culture of the era, but also into the vast machinery of production and consumption that defined the late 19th century. This mass production aimed to reach a broad audience, blurring the lines between art, advertisement, and commodity. This unassuming little card speaks volumes about the relationship between art, industry, and the everyday lives of people a century ago.