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

This is a card from the "Actresses" series, produced by the American tobacco company, William S. Kimball & Co. These cards, which were included in cigarette packs, reflect a growing interest in celebrity culture during the late 19th century. Actresses, like Miss Engel, became public figures, and their images were widely circulated and consumed. The commodification of these women's images raises important questions about the representation and objectification of women in a rapidly changing media landscape. It invites us to consider the social and cultural forces that shaped the rise of celebrity culture. Was this an empowering development for women, or did it simply reinforce existing power structures? These cards, like many other historical artifacts, can be studied through archival research, including trade publications, theater reviews, and biographical information on the actresses featured. It is through this contextualization that we can come to a richer understanding of the cultural significance of these images.