Verona Jarbeau, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

Editor: This is a vintage photographic print of Verona Jarbeau, a portrait from the "Actors and Actresses" series, made sometime between 1885 and 1891 by Allen & Ginter. It feels theatrical, with Jarbeau posed under an arch, holding a fan. What stories do you think this image tries to tell us about fame and femininity during this era? Curator: The theatrical framing, as you pointed out, is crucial. The arch, the fan, the slightly exaggerated pose—all evoke a stage setting, reminding us that this is a constructed persona. Consider how photography itself, even then, was carefully staged, how much effort was dedicated to the performance of an ideal. Jarbeau isn’t just a woman; she is "Verona Jarbeau," the actress, an image to be consumed. What recurring symbols of feminine identity do you notice at play? Editor: I see flowers in her hair, delicate lace detailing in her dress…and a distinct gaze directed upwards, towards something unseen. I also can’t help but consider the role of tobacco—the reason for the card’s existence in the first place. Curator: Precisely. The averted gaze often signified virtue, a kind of idealized innocence—though here, I suspect, it hints more at ambition, at aspiration. And placing her image on a cigarette card…It's an odd marriage, isn’t it? Tobacco, traditionally associated with masculinity, advertising itself through the image of feminine beauty. It’s a potent symbol of the commodification of identity in a rapidly changing world. Editor: That is a complex intertwining of signs…a far cry from simply selling cigarettes! Thinking about what's changed since then, I think a similar pattern repeats today across the Internet, where people are being productized, too. I can see the links through time and across social layers now. Thank you. Curator: Yes, and those continuities reveal the enduring power of images to shape our understanding of ourselves, and of each other. It reflects our hopes, values, and desires back to us. Seeing continuities with our lives is always eye-opening.