Lillian Russell, from the Actresses series (T1), distributed by the American Tobacco Co. to promote Turkish Trophies Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the glittering world of turn-of-the-century American theater with this vibrant commercial color lithograph featuring Lillian Russell, the iconic actress and singer dubbed the "American Beauty." Produced 1900 by Frederickadore Spiegle the American Tobacco Company, this petite print (8 1/4 x 6 5/16 in.) was part of theresses series (T1 distributed inside packs of Turkish Trophies Cigarettes to entice smokers and collectors alike. Chromolithography, a pioneering technique for affordable, full-color mass production, brought Russell's glamorous portrait to life, capturing her elegance in a style that blended portraiture with bold advertising flair. These ephemera prints were cultural touchstones, transforming everyday cigarette packs into treasure troves of celebrity imagery and fueling the era's obsession with stage stars amid rising tobacco marketing. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department as part of The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights how commerce and celebrity intertwined, offering a window into Gilded Age consumerism and women's rising visibility in popular culture.

About the Artist

Frederick Moladore Spiegle|American Tobacco Company · 1865–1942

American, Brooklyn, New York 1865–1942 New York|