Miss Paulin, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This is a portrait of Miss Paulin from the Actresses series, a carte-de-visite produced by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., a cigarette company. The sepia tone flattens the image, yet the composition directs our focus through strategic contrasts. Miss Paulin's visage is softly lit against a dark background which creates a depth that is visually appealing. The zig zag line of the frilled collar and the curve of the floral decoration draw our eye into the scene. As a commercial product, the image functions semiotically: Miss Paulin, the actress, is the signifier, while glamour and allure are signified. The structural binary here plays on notions of visibility and value: by associating beauty with the commodity of cigarettes, the portrait attempts to elevate both. Ultimately, the photograph is both art and advertisement, a combination that challenges traditional notions of artistic value and explores the evolving relationship between art, commerce, and identity in the modern age.