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

This photograph of Harriet Taylor, from the Actresses series, was produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards existed within a booming trade-card industry in the late 19th century. The ‘Actresses’ series presents performers as objects of desire, aligning them with the pleasures of smoking. Note how Taylor’s pose and classical-style gown evoke a sense of refined beauty, a visual code that elevates both the actress and the cigarette brand. This card reflects the increasing commercialization of leisure and the growing visibility of women in public life, though within the constraints of a male gaze. Understanding this image requires delving into the history of advertising, the entertainment industry, and gender roles of the time. We might consult archives of trade cards, theatrical ephemera, and social commentaries to reveal the complex interplay of commerce, culture, and representation at play. Art, in this context, becomes a mirror reflecting the desires and anxieties of a rapidly changing society.