M. Stevenson, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

Editor: This is a fascinating piece - a print dating back to 1890, part of the "Actresses" series by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. It features M. Stevenson and it strikes me as rather dreamy. What's your take on it? Curator: Dreamy is the perfect word. It’s funny how something designed as advertising can also be so evocative. The softness of the sepia tones, the delicate features… It feels like capturing a fleeting moment of grace. Perhaps even more compelling considering its origins as a commercial product; do you think its beauty elevates it beyond mere advertisement? Editor: That's a good point, thinking about its duality. I mean, on the one hand, it's a straightforward marketing tool, but it definitely has this artistic quality. Like a Victorian version of an influencer campaign. Curator: Precisely! But there's something about the way she gazes – is it direct or a wistful reverie? It is definitely open for debate. Also, note the elaborate hair, the understated elegance...these all create a compelling image, don't you think? Perhaps the goal was aspirational, something to draw smokers to identify with glamour and the stage? Editor: Yes, the portrait feels incredibly stylized and aspirational, in hindsight. Curator: This has really gotten me pondering on celebrity endorsements. This photo might be considered kitsch to some, but it provides insight on how images worked over a century ago! Thank you! Editor: Indeed! Thinking about those links to celebrity culture adds another dimension to my reading of it! Thanks for this journey through time and representation!