Card 691, Miss Carroll, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 2) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a photographic print of Miss Carroll by Allen and Ginter, originally made as a cigarette card. These cards were produced in the United States during the late 19th century as a marketing tactic, inserted into cigarette packs to stiffen them and entice consumers. The image presents us with a portrait of a young woman, identified as "Miss Carroll," likely an actress of the period. The Virginia Brights Cigarettes company sought to capitalize on her fame by featuring her image in their product. This highlights the burgeoning celebrity culture of the time and the commercialization of public figures through mass media. It also speaks to the increasing popularity of tobacco consumption and the ways in which companies used popular culture to promote their products. To fully understand this image, we might consult theater archives, biographical dictionaries, and advertising history collections to learn more about Miss Carroll and the culture surrounding her. The meaning of art like this shifts depending on its social context.