Miss Emilione, from the Actresses series (N190) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

Curator: This is "Miss Emilione, from the Actresses series," created in 1889 by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. It’s currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: She's captivating. Something about the hazy, sepia tone gives her a dreamy, almost ethereal quality. I'm instantly drawn in. It looks like a moment caught between the wings of history, doesn't it? Curator: It is a printed drawing, most likely based on a photograph, and that impressionistic feel comes from its origins as a promotional insert for Kimball cigarettes. The "Actresses series" capitalized on the fame of stage stars to market tobacco products. Editor: So, beauty as advertisement. Not much has changed, really! What interests me is her expression – a delicate mix of allure and vulnerability. Is that intended, or am I projecting? Curator: Consider the cultural context. Actresses held a somewhat liminal position in society. Admired, yet sometimes not fully accepted. Her gaze seems to capture that precarious balance, doesn't it? She embodies a form of idealized womanhood presented for public consumption. Editor: The brooch at her collar is so interesting too, such a defined decorative piece among so much softer detail. A suggestion of the material wealth that performance might bring or simply more about decoration as you mention. Curator: It certainly plays into the constructed image. These cigarette cards offer insight into the values and desires of the time. They served as collectible cultural artifacts alongside promoting Kimball's brand. Editor: It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What was Miss Emilione really like? Did she ever see these cards? Curator: Probably. Perhaps she even benefited from the exposure, as it amplified her presence and name recognition. Editor: I think beyond the commodification, this tiny card reminds me that every image holds echoes of real lives and untold stories. It humanizes the concept of advertisements in such a touching way. Curator: Indeed. It bridges the gap between the ephemeral world of celebrity and the everyday object, reminding us of the narratives woven into the visual culture of the past.