Miss Ninon, from the Actresses series (N190) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This card was produced by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. as part of a series of actresses, printed using photolithography, a technique that allows for mass production. The image is printed on a thin paper stock, typical of the ephemeral materials associated with advertising, trade, and consumer culture. Its smooth surface and lightweight nature made it ideal for distribution within cigarette packs, turning celebrity into a collectible commodity. The photolithographic process, using light and chemistry to transfer an image from a negative to a printing plate, allowed for the swift replication of Miss Ninon's portrait, blurring the lines between art, advertising, and entertainment. This image was created as part of a larger system, in which cheap images would get consumers hooked on smoking. By considering the techniques of its making, we can see how this card reflects the rise of mass media, celebrity culture, and the commercialization of everyday life in the late 19th century, challenging traditional hierarchies of value within the arts.