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

This is Miss Jarbeau, from the Actresses series (N203), a photograph issued by the cigarette company, Wm. S. Kimball & Co. These cards were included in cigarette packs and were part of a broader commercial phenomenon that used images of actresses to promote brands. In the late 19th century, tobacco companies recognized the appeal of actresses. Photography democratized images, making them more accessible and creating a new kind of celebrity. This image creates meaning through its visual codes. Jarbeau's theatrical costume and pose are both a form of marketing and a representation of the changing social status of women in entertainment. Studying these cards through institutional records, theatre archives, and advertising history reveals a complex interplay between art, commerce, and society, where the image of the actress was both celebrated and commodified. The meaning of art is contingent on this social and institutional context.