Alice Vincent, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a promotional cigarette card of Alice Vincent, from a series produced by Kinney Brothers, a tobacco company, in the late 19th century. These cards, distributed with cigarette packs, offered consumers a glimpse into the world of popular entertainment and celebrity. The actresses series was just one of many sets, reflecting the burgeoning culture of mass media and advertising in the United States. Such images played a crucial role in shaping public perceptions of beauty, fame, and the ideal woman. Vincent is presented in a theatrical pose, referencing her profession and alluding to the spectacle of the stage. To fully understand the significance of these cards, historians can delve into archives of advertising, theater history, and social studies of consumer culture. Through such research, we can unpack the complex relationships between commerce, entertainment, and the construction of identity in the Gilded Age. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.