Miss Helen Howard, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

Curator: This collotype, “Miss Helen Howard, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes,” made between 1886 and 1890 by Goodwin & Company, is fascinating, isn’t it? It’s a promotional image of a performer for a tobacco company. Editor: Yes, it's interesting to see this level of artistic rendering used to promote a product like cigarettes. It feels quite removed from how we often view art today, but how should we look at something like this? Curator: From a materialist perspective, this image isn't just about the woman; it’s deeply embedded in the means of production. The collotype process itself - a photographic printmaking technique- reflects advancements in mass production. Tobacco cards were wildly popular, acting like small portable artworks circulated amongst the public and this drove experimentation and refinement of collotype production, reducing costs but enabling greater realism and precision. Are we really to believe that its mass-produced and consumed nature somehow makes it lesser than art intended for an elite salon? What do you think the context of consumerism adds? Editor: So, the availability of this kind of artwork is influenced by capitalism, in a sense making everyday people more familiar with photographic processes. Does its purpose degrade the work? Curator: Absolutely not. By challenging these preconceived notions about artistic merit, we expose the complex relationship between artistic practices, popular culture and commerce. It also highlights the role of labor; from the photographer and printers to the factory workers packaging cigarettes. Who profits, who consumes and why? It allows us to look beyond simple aesthetics. Editor: I see your point. Examining its production and purpose really gives a new way of interpreting its place and purpose. Curator: Precisely. Hopefully, we now consider this artwork as more than just a pretty picture! Editor: Definitely! Looking at it this way is fascinating and sheds so much light on the object’s context.