Ray Watson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This card, featuring Ray Watson, was made by Allen and Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. It’s a chromolithograph, a technique that allowed color images to be mass-produced using a series of lithographic stones. Each stone would apply a different color ink to the paper. The use of chromolithography speaks volumes about the cultural context in which this card was made. The image of Ray Watson, an actress, was reproduced en masse to be included in cigarette packs as a marketing strategy. This represents the industrialization of both art and advertisement, and reflects the increased consumerism of the late 19th century. The process transformed the portrait into a commodity, using the actress's image to sell a product. This raises questions about the labor involved in the production of both the image and the cigarettes, and the relationship between art, commerce, and consumption. This little card invites us to consider how images circulate in society, and how they are used to shape our desires and behaviors.