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

This photograph of Marie Tempest is part of the Actresses series, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as promotional material for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Small cards like this one reveal the cultural and social norms of the late 19th century, particularly around the commodification and representation of women. Marie Tempest, a well-known opera singer and actress, is presented here as both a performer and an object of desire, reflecting the complex roles women occupied in the public sphere. The image's circulation through tobacco products highlights the connections between entertainment, consumption, and gendered marketing strategies. The fact that actresses were used to promote cigarettes speaks volumes about the perceived associations between glamour, femininity, and the act of smoking. In essence, this seemingly simple photograph encapsulates a moment in history where the lines between art, commerce, and identity became increasingly blurred.