Mlle. Pournel, from the Actresses series (N203) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This photograph of Mlle. Pournel was one of a series of actresses distributed by the American tobacco company, Wm. S. Kimball & Co. Cards like these were collected and traded, and give us insight into the cultural values of the late 19th century. Mlle. Pournel is posed in costume and is presented for the viewer’s enjoyment. Although we might not know much about Mlle. Pournel herself, the image reminds us of the widespread commodification of feminine beauty in this period. As the advertising industry boomed in the United States, images of women were increasingly used to sell products, whether it was tobacco, soap, or clothing. Historians would study popular entertainment and the advertising industry to understand the role of images like these. The mass production of images changed the way people saw themselves and others, creating and reinforcing ideas about gender, class, and race.