Elvina, from the Ballet Queens series (N182) issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. 1889

This color lithograph of Elvina, from the Ballet Queens series, was issued by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. The image shows a ballet dancer in costume, part of a series produced by a tobacco company. Here, visual codes collide, juxtaposing the world of high art with commercial advertising. Made in the United States, these cards reflect the burgeoning consumer culture of the late 19th century. The institutional history of the Metropolitan Museum itself, founded in 1870, coincides with the rise of mass media and advertising. The museum emerged as a place of cultural authority, even as images like this one circulated widely in everyday life. The dancer's attire, with its theatrical flair, hints at the spectacle of performance. Understanding this image requires a look at the economic structures that supported both art and advertising. By studying the archives of companies like Kimball, we gain insight into the social conditions that shaped artistic production and consumption during this pivotal era.