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

This portrait of a woman comes from the Novelties series (N228, Type 2), issued by Kinney Bros., around the late 19th century. These cards were originally included in cigarette packs, acting as promotional items and collectibles. The image presents a vision of idealized femininity that circulated broadly in American visual culture during the Gilded Age. We see the subject framed in a small circular format that recalls the tradition of miniature portraiture, associated with the elites and nobility of prior eras. The woman's tasteful dress, porcelain skin, and coy demeanor all speak to this aesthetic. Kinney Brothers, like other tobacco companies, utilized images like this to market their products to a growing consumer base. These images offer a glimpse into the social values and commercial strategies of a bygone era, reflecting the complex relationship between art, industry, and identity in American history. To understand this phenomenon more fully, we can consult advertising history databases, business records, and sociological studies of consumer culture from the period.