Kate Uart, Corsair Co., from the Actors and Actresses series (N45, Type 6) for Virginia Brights Cigarettes 1885 - 1891

This small card featuring Kate Uart was produced by Allen & Ginter for Virginia Brights Cigarettes as part of a series showcasing actors and actresses. Made in the United States, this card reflects the late 19th-century's burgeoning culture of celebrity and consumerism. The image's meaning lies in the convergence of entertainment, advertising, and the era's social mores. The theatrical profession, while gaining popularity, still carried a certain social stigma. By associating their product with figures like Uart, the cigarette company sought to capitalize on her fame while also lending a veneer of respectability to both the product and the performer. Uart’s fame also helped to spread an ideal of beauty. What we see on the card is a highly stylized portrait following particular conventions which were taking hold in institutions such as photography studios and beauty parlors. Understanding such ephemera requires delving into the social and economic conditions of the time, examining sources like theatrical reviews, advertising records, and social commentaries, as well as the institutional histories of entertainment and advertising. This helps us see how cultural values are negotiated and disseminated through commercial images.