Laurence, from the Ballet Queens series (N182) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This small chromolithograph of Laurence, from the Ballet Queens series, was issued by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co., an American tobacco company. It’s an interesting example of how commercial imagery intersects with the cultural landscape of its time. Made to be included in cigarette packs, these cards reflect the popular fascination with ballet and performers in the late 19th century. Ballet dancers were some of the first celebrities, and collecting cards such as these was a widespread phenomenon. The image, with its focus on the dancer's costume and demure pose, speaks to the objectification and idealization of women in popular culture. Understanding this card requires us to look at the social history of commercial art and the role of advertising in shaping cultural values. By consulting archives of advertising ephemera, social histories of leisure, and studies of gender representation, we can better understand the complex interplay between art, commerce, and society in the Gilded Age.