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

This small card, "Miss Jansen, from the Actresses series," was created by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. The image is a sepia portrait, its subdued palette giving it an antique feel. The composition is simple: a bust of a woman, softly lit, her gaze directed towards the viewer. The texture of the card itself adds another layer, its slight imperfections and fading hinting at the passage of time. But what does this image communicate beyond its aesthetic qualities? As a commercial product, it reflects the semiotic codes of its era, linking feminine beauty with the act of smoking. The actress, a public figure, is commodified, her image used to sell cigarettes. This juxtaposition of art and commerce reveals how cultural values become embedded in everyday objects. It invites us to consider the broader structures of representation and consumption that shape our understanding of beauty and identity.