Gertrude Gardner, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 8) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This photograph of Gertrude Gardner was made as a promotional item for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. These cards were printed using a photographic process called albumen printing, where paper is coated with albumen from egg whites, then sensitized with silver nitrate. The resulting print has a warm tone and a smooth surface. Think about the material transformation here: raw eggs converted into a crucial element of photographic reproduction. Albumen prints like this one were mass-produced and widely distributed as a marketing strategy, embedding themselves into the visual culture of the time, and offering a glimpse into the celebrity culture of the late 19th century. The use of this process speaks volumes about the intersection of photography, consumer culture, and labor, and how they all become intertwined. By considering these cards as material objects, we gain a richer understanding of their place in social history.