Lillian Lewis, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

Editor: This is an albumen print featuring Lillian Lewis from the Actors and Actresses series, made for Old Judge Cigarettes sometime between 1886 and 1890. I'm struck by how it captures a moment of leisure, almost staged, but somehow intimate. What's your take? Curator: It’s fascinating to see how celebrity culture intersected with consumerism at this time. These cards, essentially advertisements, also participated in the burgeoning public image of actors and actresses. How do you think the distribution of such images via cigarette packs influenced perceptions of actors like Lillian Lewis? Editor: Well, it probably democratized access, right? Bringing images of famous people into everyday life. I guess I'm curious if this kind of advertising cheapened their image in some way? Curator: That's a key question! There was certainly a tension between mass appeal and the perceived "high art" of the theatre. Did these cards elevate or commodify figures like Lillian Lewis? Consider the social hierarchy: Cigarettes were becoming widely popular, blurring class lines in consumption. What kind of audience did "Old Judge" seek, and how did portraying actors appeal to that demographic? Editor: So it's not just about the actress but about building a specific image for the cigarette brand, one of sophistication and perhaps even aspiration? Curator: Precisely. And it highlights how the entertainment industry, even back then, was deeply intertwined with marketing and societal values. Images, even fleeting ones like these, had the power to shape public opinion and cultural trends. The positioning of women like Lewis also speaks volumes, doesn’t it? Editor: It’s interesting to think about the power dynamics at play in creating and distributing these images. I'll definitely look into that! Thanks! Curator: Indeed, reflecting on how art participates in larger systems can open doors to understanding its multifaceted role. It gives us insight on not just art, but also the people consuming the product it’s attached to.