Mlle. Secroix, Paris, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the glittering world of 19th theater with *Mlle. Secroix, Paris*, a captivating albumen photograph from Goodwin & Company's Actors and Actresses series (171) for Old Judgearettes, produced between 1886 and 1890. This tiny portrait (just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches) captures the poised elegance of the French actress Mlle. Secix, one of many performers immortalized in these collectible cards tucked into cigarette packs. During the Gilded Age, such ephemera turned smoking into a gateway for celebrity fandom, blending commerce with culture as collectors eagerly traded cards featuring stage stars. The albumen process, a hallmark of mid-to-late 19th-century photography, lent these images their sharp detail and warm tones, achieved by coating paper with egg whites sensitized to silver salts. Goodwin & Company, a leading tobacco firm, pioneered high-quality photo inserts, elevating trade cards from mere ads to miniature artworks. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights the era's obsession with actresses as icons of glamour and modernity. These cards not only promoted Old Judge Cigarettes but also preserved fleeting theatrical moments, offering a window into how photography democratized portraiture for everyday enthusiasts. A delightful survivor of Victorian pop culture!

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...