Mlle. Bajadere, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a carte-de-visite of Mlle. Bajadere, made by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. It’s part of a series called "Actors and Actresses," a popular genre from the late 19th century, designed to be collected and traded. This small card reflects the exoticized portrayals of non-Western cultures common at the time. The term "Bajadere" refers to a European interpretation of Indian dancers, often imbued with orientalist fantasies. Bajadere can be translated to ‘dancing girl’. Consider the actress featured: was she Indian, or performing a Western interpretation of an "Indian" character? How does the image reinforce or challenge the viewer's expectations and assumptions about other cultures? The card reflects the complex dynamics of cultural exchange, representation, and appropriation during this period. Think about who had access to these images, and the messages they conveyed. Mlle. Bajadere serves as a reminder of how identity is performed, consumed, and sometimes distorted through popular media.