Mlle. Brambilla in "Excelsior", from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

This charming albumen photograph captures Mlle. Brambilla in costume for the popular ballet *Excelsior*, part of the and Actresses series (N171) produced by Goodwin & Company between 1886 and 1890. Issued as promotional inserts for Old Judge Cigarettes, these diminutive cards—measuring just over two and a half inches tall—brought images of celebrated performers into everyday life. Mlle. Brambilla’s portrait reflects the era’s fascination with theater and dance, when ballet spectacles like *Excelsior* dazzled audiences across Europe and America with their elaborate costumes and grand themes of progress. The medium itself is noteworthy: albumen prints offered rich tonal detail on thin paper, making them ideal for mass-produced ephemera. Though originally disposable, such cards were avidly collected, preserving fleeting moments of stage glamour. Today, this example resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Burdick Collection, reminding us how commercial objects can become valuable records of performance history and popular culture in the late nineteenth century.

About the Artist

Goodwin & Company · 1850–1950

**Goodwin & Company (ca. 1850–1950)** Goodwin & Company, originally established as E. Goodwin and Brother before the American Civil War, emerged as a prominent New York City-based tobacco manufacturer in the mid-19th century. Operating from the bustling heart of Manhattan, the firm built its reputation on popular cigarette brands such as Gypsy Queen and, most notably, Old Judge, which became syno...