Lulu Berger, from the Actresses series (N67) promoting Dixie Cigarettes for Allen & Ginter brand tobacco products 1885 - 1893

This small card, promoting Dixie Cigarettes, captures Lulu Berger within a tight frame. The sepia tones and the slight blurring around the edges give it an ethereal quality, evoking nostalgia. Structurally, the composition is divided horizontally: the actress's portrait occupies the upper two-thirds, while the brand's name is boldly displayed in the lower section. Lulu's gaze meets ours, establishing an immediate connection, yet there is a distance created by the photographic technique of the time. Her lacy dress hints at her profession as an actress. This image functions as a sign, carefully constructed to merge the allure of fame with the habit of smoking. The muted palette and aged texture contribute to the construction of a desirable past, inviting us to partake in this idealized version of leisure and pleasure. This small object contains a complex interplay of desire, identity, and commodification, framed by the aesthetics of its time.