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

This small card from the Actresses series, promoting Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, presents Jessie Merrilles in a full-length sepia photograph. The composition is dominated by her figure, posed in a theatrical stance with what appears to be a rifle. The limited tonal range focuses our attention on the shapes and forms within the image. The wide brim of Merrilles’ hat creates a strong horizontal line across the upper part of the photograph, balanced by the diagonal of the rifle. Her dress, a mass of diffused light, contrasts with the darker jacket, drawing the eye through the image. The materiality of the card itself, with its slight discoloration and textured surface, adds another layer of meaning. Cards like these functioned within a complex semiotic system. They were not simply advertisements but also collectible objects, their value lying in their ability to signify status, taste, and cultural knowledge. The formal qualities of the image work in tandem with these cultural codes. The actress’s pose and attire signify both femininity and a certain level of performative power. Note that the sepia tone lends the image a nostalgic quality, suggesting that the value of art and beauty is something that lasts.