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

This is "Miss Bouchee", one of the actresses featured in a series of collectible cards issued by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. These cards, distributed with cigarette packs, offer us a glimpse into the cultural norms of the time. Actresses, like Miss Bouchee, were among the first celebrities, their images mass-produced and consumed. Note the classical garb; this was an era deeply invested in the visual languages of antiquity. It was a means by which to ennoble modern subjects. Yet, there's a tension here. While Miss Bouchee’s pose and attire borrow from classical ideals, her presentation is also about commodification. Consider how her image circulates within a burgeoning consumer culture, bound to the sale of cigarettes. The card reflects the complex interplay of gender, performance, and commercialism in the late 19th century. It invites us to reflect on how images shape our perceptions and desires.