Parame, France, from the Surf Beauties series (N232), issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

Editor: So, this is *Parame, France, from the Surf Beauties series* created in 1889 by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It’s a print combining drawing and colored pencils and looks like a collectible card. The figure’s bathing suit is… certainly eye-catching, what can you tell me about this piece? Curator: It's fascinating how a commercial product like a tobacco card reflects evolving social norms and the burgeoning leisure culture of the late 19th century. These "Surf Beauties" were clearly aimed at male consumers. We can see the female figure as a commodity, a promotional tool within a patriarchal society. Editor: A commodity? It sounds so transactional. Curator: It is! Consider the rise of advertising at this time. These cards circulated widely, shaping perceptions of women and idealizing the female form for public consumption. The attire itself is noteworthy. The colorful design draws the eye, but it also serves to sexualize the figure, fitting within the gaze of the intended consumer. Think about the places these were displayed - bars, shops... These seemingly innocent images helped reinforce the social dynamics of the time. Editor: So, it's less about the art itself and more about how it functioned within the larger social and economic context? Curator: Precisely. This card wouldn’t have appeared in museums or galleries in its time, its public role was in these small scale consumable images. What did the wide circulation of such imagery tell us about gender, class and culture back then? That's where the true meaning resides. Editor: That is, dark, but I can see how marketing really tells you what a society values at a specific time. I definitely see this card in a new way now. Curator: And that's the power of art history – understanding art's complex relationship with the world it inhabits and the way that social context informs meaning.