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

This card, part of the "Actresses" series, was produced by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co., a cigarette manufacturer. The image is printed on a small piece of cardstock, a material readily available due to industrial production and mass consumption in the late 19th century. Consider the process behind this seemingly simple object. Photography, itself a relatively new technology, was combined with printing techniques to create a collectible item. These cards were included in cigarette packs as a marketing tactic, designed to entice consumers and build brand loyalty. The choice of actresses as the subject matter speaks to the growing celebrity culture of the time and the commodification of image. The card's small size and mass-produced nature underscore its connection to wider social issues of labor and consumption, a reflection of the rise of industrial capitalism. It challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and everyday commercial objects.