Standing actress in striped gown, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is "Standing actress in striped gown," a promotional image from the Actresses series, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. These cards, distributed with Sweet Caporal Cigarettes, reflect the late 19th-century culture of celebrity and consumerism, where the lines between public image and private life blurred. The actress is shown in a costume, perhaps an indicator of her profession, but also highlighting the performative nature of identity. The striped gown itself is striking, drawing the eye and suggesting a certain boldness, yet her gaze is demure, reflecting the era’s complex expectations of women. These images, mass-produced and widely circulated, shaped and reinforced societal ideals of beauty and femininity. As viewers, we’re invited to consider the gaze, not only of the photographer but also of the consumer. How did these images affect the actresses themselves? And how did they influence the self-perception of women who encountered them?