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

This small card featuring Miss Merrie was one of many in a series of actresses produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs as a marketing strategy. During this period, the representation of women, particularly actresses, became a popular form of advertisement. Miss Merrie is seen here in a costume which both reveals and conceals. There's an emphasis on her image and her role as a public figure. The Kinney Brothers were not just selling cigarettes, but also a vision of femininity that was considered desirable at the time. These images played a role in shaping societal perceptions of women, reflecting a tension between empowerment and objectification. The commodification of actresses’ images in marketing materials invites us to consider the complex dynamics of fame, gender, and consumer culture at the turn of the century. It also speaks to the power and agency these women possessed, or lacked, within the burgeoning entertainment industry.