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

Editor: This is "M. Roquell," a photo print from the Actresses series made by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. in 1889. It’s a small portrait, really quite intimate, but there’s also something commercial about it... I wonder, what do you see in this piece? Curator: This unassuming little card actually speaks volumes about the construction of celebrity and femininity in the late 19th century. Actresses, like M. Roquell here, were becoming public figures, but also commodities. Think about how images like these, distributed with cigarettes, normalized a certain image of womanhood for mass consumption. What does it mean to you that this portrait was essentially advertising? Editor: I guess it suggests that fame was becoming a product itself, something to be bought and sold. Were actresses able to control their own image, or were they just part of this marketing machine? Curator: That’s the critical question, isn’t it? This image might seem straightforward, but it's entangled in power dynamics, reflecting both the allure and the limitations placed on women in the public sphere. Consider the male gaze inherent in this type of imagery, packaged and distributed by a corporation run by men. Does it influence how we see Roquell, and women, even now? Editor: I never really considered the male gaze aspect here; it’s a really good point. Curator: Think, too, about accessibility. Suddenly, ordinary people could own a portrait of a famous actress. It democratized representation, yet it also commercialized it. Editor: So, this isn’t just a picture of an actress; it's a cultural artifact reflecting societal shifts around gender, fame, and capitalism? Curator: Precisely. It's a lens through which we can examine the complex interplay of identity and commerce in the modern age. Editor: Wow, that gives me a lot to think about. Thanks!