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

Editor: Here we have a portrait of May Williams from the Actresses series by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., dating back to 1889. It’s a photographic print, almost drawing-like. I am really drawn to the vintage feel, a sense of melancholy, but also intrigue, she seems like a person who holds many secrets. What's your perspective on this portrait? Curator: Well, beyond the aesthetics, it’s critical to place this image within its social context. Consider the late 19th century: mass production and burgeoning consumer culture. Tobacco companies issued these cards as collectibles. This was more than a pretty picture. How do we reconcile the objectification of actresses, packaged as commodities alongside cigarettes, with the women's personal agency? Editor: So you’re saying that, although it’s a portrait of an individual, May Williams, it represents a bigger issue of women being used for advertising purposes? Curator: Precisely. The male gaze is ever-present. These cards catered to a predominantly male consumer base. May Williams’ representation becomes entangled with power dynamics and gendered expectations. It makes you think about the visibility and performance of femininity, then and now, doesn’t it? And about how even today, an actress needs not only skill and luck, but to contend with cultural expectations. Editor: Definitely. Thinking about it as a commercial product rather than purely art changes my perception. I am wondering if it gave actresses of the time more visibility, or did it put them into strictly defined boxes. Curator: It's a double-edged sword. On one hand, there’s recognition and wider awareness; on the other, the images fix them in a limited, commodified form. Editor: Thank you, seeing it as an advertisement actually sheds new light on what it says about women's roles during this period.