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

This photograph of Kittie Murphy was mass-produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company as a promotional item in the late 19th century. These cards were inserted into packs of Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. Mass-produced images like this one reflect the growing commercialization of leisure and entertainment in America at the time. The rise of photography and printing technologies allowed for the widespread circulation of images of celebrities, thus blurring the lines between public and private life. The commercial distribution of images was tightly controlled by those in power. It is interesting to consider the institutional forces that shape the production and consumption of these images. Further research into the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, the history of advertising, and the careers of actresses like Kittie Murphy will reveal the complex social and cultural forces at play in the creation and dissemination of this image.