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

Curator: Here we have “Miss Stein, from the Actresses series (N203)” produced in 1889 by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is an albumen silver print on a card mount. Editor: She’s quite striking, isn’t she? Almost defiant. It’s amazing to me how much personality shines through even in these small, sepia-toned images. I get a distinct theatrical vibe—lots of confidence! Curator: That's a crucial point. Kimball issued these cards as part of their cigarette marketing. It's fascinating how commodities became intertwined with the visual representation of actresses, contributing to their fame but also objectifying them in a disposable format. Editor: A cigarette card... what a fleeting existence. Makes you wonder what Miss Stein, the actress, thought of becoming this mass-produced icon associated with smoke! I’m sure it boosted sales. It also strikes me how opulent everything appears. Curator: Yes, notice how the material elements - the draped table, the patterned textiles, and Miss Stein’s beaded costume work to evoke the period’s style and values, indicating her role as a stage persona, and all within the economy of ephemeral collectibles. Editor: And that pose, leaning nonchalantly against what looks like an ornately decorated vase… like she’s utterly comfortable in this manufactured scene. Do you think this was typical costuming of that period? Curator: Considering Kimball's specific "Actresses" series, the costume likely reflects stage attire rather than everyday wear, heightening the drama, as this print finds its significance between celebrity culture and consumer marketing in that period. Editor: It certainly does the job! To imagine the life, perhaps full of glitter and grim realities, behind this photographic stillness makes this more complex than a pretty image to boost cigarette sales. Curator: I completely agree. Studying this small photographic print opens a window into how the world of theatre intersected with advertising, and what material form this encounter took within wider historical economies. Editor: Looking closely definitely makes this more fascinating; like unearthing layers, or seeing between them at least, rather than simply gazing.