Louise Paullin, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a promotional image of Louise Paullin, part of the “Actresses” series, created by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company to advertise Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. During this period, actresses were among the few women who achieved public recognition. This photograph, reproduced on a small card, functioned as a token of celebrity and desire. Paullin’s gaze is directed off to the side which invites the viewer to contemplate not just her beauty, but also her inner thoughts and aspirations. These images reflect the complex negotiation of gender and commerce at the turn of the century, capturing a moment when women were both celebrated and commodified. The Kinney Brothers perpetuated both; it was a business that commodified the image of actresses like Louise Paullin, who reflected an idealized vision of femininity. Ultimately, this photograph reminds us of the intertwined histories of celebrity, consumption, and the evolving role of women in society.