Card 429, Miss Carey, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is Card 429, Miss Carey, from the Actors and Actresses series made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards were enormously popular in the late 19th century. The image presents a profile of Miss Carey, an actress, her gaze serene, adorned with what appears to be an elaborate floral headpiece. These cards were not just about marketing; they were about creating a cultural pantheon of celebrated figures. They capture the burgeoning cult of celebrity and the ways in which performers were being elevated to a status of near mythological importance. Consider the implications of mass-producing images of women, and the societal gaze it both reflected and reinforced. In an era of shifting social mores, how did these images contribute to the construction of femininity and the public perception of women in the performing arts? It prompts us to reflect on the transient nature of fame and the commercial forces that shape our perceptions.