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

Curator: This captivating etching is from a series called "Actresses," created in 1889 by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. This particular print features Miss Decroza, an actress whose name now mainly lives on thanks to this very artwork. Editor: It's really beautiful, I must say. There’s a striking melancholic sensibility conveyed through such understated presentation and monochromatic tones. The detail on the hat alone draws me in. It's very ornate. Curator: The series was actually produced as collectable cards included in cigarette packs. Considering that, it's interesting how the company used actresses to promote its products, tapping into notions of glamour and aspiration to sell something ultimately harmful. Editor: It speaks to the commodification of women's images at the time. I am interested in this Miss Decroza: what role did agency play in having one's likeness replicated on mass, and what freedoms were, and were not afforded given social expectations. There are layers to what could have been a disposable advert. Curator: Absolutely. Think about the cultural moment, where advertising began influencing societal norms around gender and desire. These cards not only advertised cigarettes but also a certain standard of beauty and success embodied by actresses like Miss Decroza. It's important to analyze how these images circulated and shaped public perception of femininity. Editor: You can see how printmakers were developing techniques to mass produce photographic likeness in that period of industrial and consumer revolution. Even though this specific work utilizes the print form it mirrors photographic modes of representation. Curator: Exactly, mass-produced imagery meant wider exposure and the establishment of certain beauty ideals through art forms which democratized and disseminated it further afield than previous movements. The use of etching helped soften what would be hard photographic lines, allowing print makers to introduce romantic painterly affects. Editor: It's definitely fascinating to think about what an image like this can tell us. Considering all those layers— advertising, artistry, societal expectation—it brings a new layer of depth. Curator: Indeed. These cards really underscore how art, commerce, and social narratives intertwine to produce powerful cultural statements.