Seated woman (on white silk), from the Girl Art Subjects series (N193) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1887 - 1894

This is a photogravure print from the *Girl Art Subjects* series, which was commissioned by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. to promote their *Satin Straight Cut Cigarettes*. The print depicts a seated woman dressed in a flowing white gown, with a dark background, it is a popular example of late 19th-century advertising and visual culture in the United States. The use of a female figure to promote the product was a common practice in the 19th century. *Seated Woman* is a prime example of the "Gibson Girl" aesthetic popular at the time, a look which idealized femininity, beauty, and grace.