Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn, from the Goddesses of the Greeks and Romans series (N188) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This is Aurora, Goddess of the Dawn, a lithograph issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. as part of a series on Greek and Roman Goddesses. These cards were distributed with cigarettes, reflecting the late 19th-century commercial and cultural fascination with classical mythology. The image presents a romanticized and idealized vision of femininity. Aurora is fair-skinned, adorned with a laurel wreath, and partially draped in a golden robe. Her sensuality and connection to nature align with traditional representations of goddesses. Yet, in this mass-produced form, Aurora becomes a commodity, packaged and consumed within a burgeoning capitalist culture. The card’s function as a tobacco insert speaks to how images of femininity and mythology were interwoven with everyday habits and desires. The image invites us to consider the complex interplay between classical ideals, commercial culture, and the construction of gender in the late 19th century. It highlights how symbols of beauty and power can be both celebrated and commodified, shaping our perceptions and desires in subtle yet pervasive ways.