Belle Urquhart, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is an image of Belle Urquhart from the Actors and Actresses series made for Virginia Brights Cigarettes. The sepia tone gives it a vintage feel, with soft lighting that highlights the actress’s features. The photograph is small, almost intimate in scale. Urquhart is framed by floral arrangements, which draw the eye upwards. Her gaze is directed off to the side, creating a sense of narrative intrigue. The composition follows a structural arrangement, using the floral elements as a semiotic framing device. The text at the bottom serves not only as a label but also as a commentary on the commercial nature of celebrity. These trade cards were very popular, but they were also tools that encoded social values. By examining the formal elements alongside the cultural context, we start to see how images can be constructed and consumed. The image presents a layered text waiting for continued examination.