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

Curator: This is "Marie Rostelle", a photograph that was part of the "Actresses" series produced around 1890 by Kinney Brothers to promote their Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The print resides here with us at The Met. Editor: What strikes me immediately is the rather languid pose. She appears to be reclining almost uncomfortably, yet there’s a compelling elegance about her stillness. There’s a kind of dramatic power embedded into what could have been a throw-away advertising piece. Curator: It’s interesting how these promotional items served a dual purpose. While meant to encourage consumerism, they also offer glimpses into the representation of women, especially actresses, in the late 19th century. The "Actresses" series participates in creating a visual culture that, despite its commercial roots, influences gender perceptions and the evolving roles of women. Rostelle herself is positioned on the edge of respectability as both a celebrity, but an entertainer. Editor: Exactly. Her look is defiant. What do you make of the men who avidly collected these? Curator: Collectors engaged in a form of visual consumption that intertwined celebrity, commerce, and personal desires. It offered the opportunity to engage with carefully curated representations of femininity that could be both aspirational and deeply problematic. Collecting, especially of portraits like this, reinforces social hierarchies but is ultimately banal since all men collected these pictures in the millions, thereby equalizing wealth, class and cultural capital in the space of art. Editor: These objects highlight the intricate interplay of commercial intent, cultural representation, and social reception. These images gave these men an imaginary relationship with actresses who seemed outside their realm of interaction, yet there she is... contained in the palm of their hand, next to a pack of Sweet Caporal cigarettes. Curator: Absolutely, seeing how marketing and photography shaped not just desires, but broader conversations around female roles and celebrity is pretty critical here. Editor: A fascinating reflection on the dynamics between art, consumption, and societal perceptions. Curator: Indeed, the confluence of forces at play are worth understanding.