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

This is "Miss Lee, from the Actresses series (N203)", a photograph issued by the Wm. S. Kimball & Co. cigarette company. These cards, popular in the late 19th century, offer us a window into the era's commodification of identity and celebrity. The "Actresses" series, of which Miss Lee is a part, highlights the burgeoning role of women in the public sphere, yet it simultaneously confines them to objects of consumption. Note the sensual pose: her bare arms, and the skirt hiked high above her knees. The images walk a tightrope between empowerment and exploitation, reflecting the complex negotiations of gender roles at the time. Consider how the economics of tobacco intersect with the representation of women. These cards, distributed with cigarettes, encouraged both the consumption of tobacco and a particular vision of femininity. What does it mean to have a person's image, identity, and persona become a selling point? How does the mass distribution change our relationship with ideas around identity?