Clara St. Muir, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a photograph of Clara St. Muir, produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in the United States as a promotional item for Sweet Caporal Cigarettes. These cards offer a glimpse into the cultural landscape of the late 19th century, where the burgeoning advertising industry intersected with popular entertainment. Clara St. Muir, an actress, becomes a commodity, her image used to sell cigarettes. It speaks to the social role of actresses, who were elevated to celebrity status, yet simultaneously objectified as figures of public consumption. How did these promotional cards shape public perceptions of actresses and women in general? The Kinney Brothers, like other tobacco companies, capitalized on the popularity of actresses to market their products. These cards were collected and traded, creating a culture of celebrity endorsement that continues today. To fully understand this image, we need to delve into the history of advertising, popular culture, and the evolving role of women in late 19th-century America. Only then can we appreciate its complex and often contradictory meanings.