Annie Sutherland, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This albumen silver print, a calling card from the Actors and Actresses series, was produced by Goodwin & Company for Gypsy Queen Cigarettes sometime in the late 19th century. This method of photography involves coating paper with egg white and then silver nitrate, creating a surface sensitive to light. The albumen gives the print its glossy surface and enhances the detail, but it also contributes to its instability over time. The sepia tone, typical of albumen prints, results from the developing process reacting with the silver. What's fascinating here is the intersection of art, commerce, and celebrity. Photography was a relatively new medium, increasingly used for mass-produced commercial purposes. Cards like these were essentially promotional items, a collectible included with cigarette packs. The images speak volumes about the era's culture: popular entertainment, the cult of celebrity, and the relentless drive to commodify all aspects of life, including art itself. Here, the photographic process becomes part of a larger system of consumption and display. It’s a reminder that art is always embedded in social and economic contexts.