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

Editor: This is "Miss Summerville," a photograph dating back to 1889, part of the Actresses series by Wm. S. Kimball & Co., primarily known for cigarette cards. It's strikingly… theatrical. Almost a little cheeky for its time, don’t you think? I mean, what am I even looking at, a portrait, or advertisement for cigarettes? What do you see in this piece that might get past a quick glance? Curator: Oh, cheeky indeed! That brazen pose practically screams, "I'm not your average Victorian wallflower!" Look beyond the risqué costume and cigarette connection. Notice how her gaze subtly defies expectations. It's not a vacant, posed stare; she’s engaging with the viewer, maybe even challenging us a bit. There's a real person behind the image, a performer. What stories do you imagine she's acting out on stage? Editor: I love the idea that there is story, a hidden drama. I can almost see her on stage in a slightly risqué period production. Curator: Precisely! It becomes less about mere marketing and more about capturing the burgeoning spirit of female performers at the time. The “erotic-art” theme mentioned is actually about performance and confidence; can’t be ignored or denied, really! Now think of her not just as “Miss Summerville, actress," but as a symbol for the turn of the century... and the turning heads! Editor: So, it's more complex than just a pretty face selling cigarettes. It's a tiny snapshot of a changing cultural landscape. I initially misread that confidence, interesting! Curator: Exactly. It makes you wonder about the expectations for women at the time versus the image Miss Summerville portrays, right? And to think it was all tucked away inside a cigarette pack! The irony is wonderfully bitter, isn’t it? Editor: I will never see these small cards in the same light again! I had such a simple understanding going into it! Curator: Neither will I!