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

Editor: This is “Annie Robe, from the Actresses series,” created in 1889 by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. It looks like it's a print based on a photograph. She has such a poised gaze and ornate hat. It feels very much of its time, but I'm curious – what jumps out at you? Curator: Oh, this transports me! It's like a tiny time capsule. You know, these weren't meant for museums; they were in cigarette packs! Imagine finding her face among your smokes! I wonder, did her gaze inspire dreams, or just remind folks to light up? I'm curious about what role these images played in the popular imagination, did they offer a glimpse into another world or perhaps a way for the consumer to envision themselves. What do you think? Editor: That’s a cool way to think about it, almost like an early form of celebrity culture? It definitely adds another layer to what feels like a straightforward portrait. Curator: Precisely! We look at it now as a historical artifact, a portrait. Back then? It was advertising, it was aspiration, a fleeting moment of connection with… well, with Annie Robe, whoever she really was. Perhaps this portrait is a collage of impressions; a moment that someone sought to capture or something that arose from it. It almost doesn't matter, what we see is up to us, now! Editor: I’m so used to seeing images presented as art in a gallery, but it’s fascinating to think of how differently people would have experienced this at the time. Curator: Isn’t it just! That reframes the whole game, doesn’t it? Always question the frame, kiddo. You never know what kind of surprises – or truths – you might find lurking in the margins. Editor: Definitely something to keep in mind. Thanks!