Portrait of woman, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 2) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

Editor: This is “Portrait of woman, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 2) issued by Kinney Bros.”, made in 1889. It is made up of a lithograph, etching, drawing and photography. It has a very demure mood, almost doll-like. What strikes you about it? Curator: This piece is a really fascinating example of the intersection of advertising, popular culture, and evolving ideals of femininity in the late 19th century. Kinney Brothers were a major tobacco company, and these cards were included in cigarette packs. Think about that: art as a promotional tool! Editor: How does that change how we see the image? Curator: Mass production alters everything. This wasn't about individual artistic expression, it was about creating a desirable image linked to the Kinney Brothers brand. Who was the intended audience, and what image of women are they consuming here? Think about the "novelty" aspect too. What’s novel here? Is it just the freebie, or something more? Editor: Maybe the photograph itself, or the lithograph printing process? Curator: Exactly. New image-making technologies impacted how people perceived themselves and others, and who had access to portraiture. Now it was accessible to everyday men purchasing cigarettes. Was this woman meant to be aspirational, a “girl next door,” or purely decorative? Editor: So, this little portrait speaks to much bigger shifts in society. Curator: Precisely. Consider the implications of mass-produced imagery in shaping social perceptions and desires. By framing this image within its historical context, we start to see it as more than just a pretty portrait, but as a artifact revealing the intertwined relationship of capitalism and cultural values.