Mary Anderson, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 7) for Dixie Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This is a photograph of Mary Anderson produced as a cigarette card by Allen & Ginter. These cards were collected by mostly male consumers and were used as promotional material for Dixie Cigarettes. Anderson was a celebrated American stage actress. Her performances were noteworthy because she maintained her agency over her career and image. She was regarded as a virtuous figure, and yet her image was used to sell cigarettes. These cards offered a fantasy of beauty and success during the Victorian Era, but often obscured the realities of gender and labor of the time. It is interesting to consider how the commodification of Anderson's image intersects with our understanding of celebrity, and feminine virtue. The image of Mary Anderson both reflects and shapes societal ideals about femininity, success, and consumption.