Card 418, Marie Roge, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card featuring Marie Roge, an actress, was produced by Allen & Ginter in Richmond, Virginia, as part of a series of collectible cards packaged with Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Cards like these offer a window into the culture of celebrity and consumerism in the late 19th century United States. Tobacco companies used images of popular actresses, athletes, and other public figures to promote their brands and foster customer loyalty. The imagery played a key role in shaping social norms and ideals. Marie Roge is presented here as a model of beauty and elegance. The column behind her could be interpreted as an allusion to classical drama, or perhaps simply a familiar studio prop. Historians use a range of resources, like trade catalogs, company records, and period newspapers, to understand the cultural significance of artifacts like these. Investigating the market for images can reveal so much about the connections between art, commerce, and society.