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

This card featuring Charlotte Wolter is from the Actors and Actresses series for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. Here, the sepia tones evoke a sense of nostalgia. The composition, typical of advertising ephemera, frames Wolter in what appears to be a moment of repose, illuminated by a soft, directional light source. Wolter's gaze is directed upward, away from the viewer, creating a sense of distance, a separation that engages with the theatrical representation of identity and performance. The act of smoking, often linked to personal expression and social identity, complicates the semiotic structure of the card. Does the inclusion of Wolter, a public figure, alongside a consumer product seek to imbue the cigarettes with a sense of cultural capital or sophistication? Or does it undermine notions of celebrity by associating it with commercial interests? Consider this tension as a commentary on the evolving relationship between art, commerce, and identity in the modern era.