Mlle. Chabot, Paris, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This card featuring Mlle. Chabot was printed by Goodwin & Company in New York as part of a series of actors and actresses included in Old Judge Cigarettes packs. The late 19th century saw the popularization of celebrity culture and the rise of mass media, which had a huge influence on advertising. This card reflects that moment, linking the world of Parisian ballet with the consumption of tobacco. It is interesting to consider the class associations implied by this connection. Ballet was often associated with elite culture, whilst cigarettes were aimed at a broader market. What kind of social mobility is being alluded to here? Is this cigarette brand trying to elevate its status through association with a Parisian ballerina? To understand this card better, we might look to sources like marketing archives and social histories of tobacco use, as well as researching the careers of actresses like Mlle Chabot to understand the image's social and cultural context.