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

This is a promotional card of Carrie Turner from the Actresses series, issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. The card's sepia tone and small scale create an intimate viewing experience, akin to holding a relic from the past. Formally, the composition emphasizes symmetry and balance, drawing attention to the formal elements of the portrait. The circular earrings mirror the rounded forms of her hair. This creates a visual harmony that underscores the cultural encoding of beauty in the late 19th century. As a commercial product, the card exists within a network of signs. The image of Carrie Turner functions as a signifier. It associates her allure with the Sweet Caporal brand. This illustrates how structuralism analyses the way meaning is produced through such relationships. The card reduces Carrie Turner to a set of constructed signs, reflecting wider cultural values and desires. Note the subtle text at the bottom, "Carrie Turner," grounding the image in the specificity of an individual. This tension between the individual and the commercial reflects the complexities inherent in representation.