Santa Barbara, from the Fancy Bathers series (N187) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

Editor: This is "Santa Barbara, from the Fancy Bathers series," a coloured-pencil print from 1889, credited to William S. Kimball & Co. The bathing suit is fascinating - so stripey and modest, yet rather shapely. What’s your take on this? Curator: Well, darling, aren't we all just a little stripey and modest, yet secretly craving to be shapely, metaphorically speaking of course? But to answer your question seriously, this work offers a peek into a very specific slice of Americana, a moment when leisure and fashion collided in the late 19th century. It's less about deep artistic expression and more about a beautifully rendered snapshot of the aspirations and aesthetics of the time. Notice how idealized the figure is, how controlled yet carefree. What do you feel she's thinking about, standing at the water's edge? Editor: Maybe she is excited to get into the water, and just enjoys feeling the breeze! It also feels incredibly posed, almost like a precursor to a modern advertisement. Curator: Absolutely! That’s astute. These "Fancy Bathers" were indeed early forms of advertising. Each card was included with cigarettes, subtly linking the pleasures of smoking with images of beauty and leisure. Isn't it interesting how art is intertwined with the business of persuasion? This makes me question, does knowing this cheapen the image for you, or does it give it more depth? Editor: I think it gives it more depth – it reveals a hidden story about the consumer culture back then! It wasn’t just a pretty picture, it was part of a marketing strategy! Curator: Precisely! And those layers of intention, the artist's hand serving commercial purposes...it is where the fun, the mystery resides. Now, go forth and view every image with a detective’s eye, my dear! Editor: Thank you. I will never look at a trading card the same way.