Ida Mulle, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

Editor: So, this is "Ida Mulle, from the Actors and Actresses series" created by Goodwin & Company sometime between 1886 and 1890. It's a print, originally for Old Judge Cigarettes, depicting a girl and a pug in a basket. I find the whole image quite endearing, almost like a Victorian-era meme. What's your take on it? Curator: It's fascinating to consider these cards not just as art, but as historical artifacts deeply embedded in the social fabric of their time. How do you think the mass production and distribution of these cards, tucked into cigarette packs, impacted the public's perception of actresses and actors like Ida Mulle? Editor: That's a good question. I suppose it democratized access to celebrity images, making them readily available to a broader public than ever before. It’s different from seeing an actress only on stage or in formal portraits. Curator: Precisely! These cards transformed public figures into accessible commodities, interwoven with everyday habits like smoking. The advertising industry capitalized on the allure of fame to promote their products. Did this, in turn, influence the status and representation of women in the public sphere? Consider the power dynamics at play. Editor: It feels like it could both elevate and objectify them. On one hand, they're being celebrated and popularized. On the other hand, they are also selling cigarettes... their image is a commodity. Curator: Exactly. The cards functioned as a form of early marketing, normalizing the consumption of celebrity and the commercialization of image. Think about the relationship between fame, consumer culture, and gender roles that this image represents. And, the choice of including a child, in a pseudo-domestic scene... Editor: It adds another layer to it! The innocence associated with children probably reinforced the brand image. Wow, I never thought a little cigarette card could have so much to unpack! Curator: It highlights how deeply ingrained art, even in its most commercial forms, is in socio-political currents and helps shape our cultural narratives. Editor: I will definitely see these cards with different eyes from now on! Thanks.