Sadie Martinot, from the Actors and Actresses series (N171) for Old Judge Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Step into the vibrant world of late 19th-century American theater with this petite albumen photograph of Sadie Martinot, a actress captured in the Actors and Actresses series (171) produced by Goodwin & Company between 1886 and 1890. Issued as promotional inserts for Old Judge Cig, these tiny cards—measuring just 2 11/16 x 1 3/8 inches—turned everyday smokers into collectors, sparking a craze for celebrity portraits that mirrored the era's booming entertainment industry and mass consumer culture. The albumen process, a hallmark of 19th-century photography, lent these ephemera their crisp detail and warm tones, making even pocket-sized images feel intimate and lifelike. Sadie Martinot, known for her stage presence, embodies the allure of Gilded Age performers, when actresses like her captivated audiences in vaudeville and burlesque. Part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, this piece highlights how commercial photography bridged art, advertising, and popular fandom, preserving fleeting stardom in enduring print. Today, it reminds us of ephemera's power: what was once discarded packaging now offers a window into women's rising visibility in public life and the clever marketing that fueled America's tobacco trade.

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...