Groupes Petites, Godin, from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 1) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card featuring "Groupes Petites, Godin" comes from a series of promotional cards for Virginia Brights Cigarettes, produced by Allen & Ginter in the late 19th century. These cards, collected and traded like baseball cards today, offer a glimpse into the cultural landscape of the time. The image itself depicts a comedic scene, likely drawn from popular stage entertainment. The disheveled figure of Godin, supported by a stern-looking officer, suggests a narrative of public disorder. This speaks to anxieties around social behavior and the role of authority in a rapidly changing urban environment. Commercial imagery like this, while seemingly trivial, played a crucial role in shaping public perceptions and values. To fully understand the card's significance, we need to delve into the history of advertising and the entertainment industry during this period. Scholarly resources such as digitized periodicals and theater archives can shed light on the cultural meanings embedded in such seemingly simple images. Understanding such images is essential to understanding the fabric of everyday life in this period.