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

This card featuring Alice Raymond was part of a series of actresses’ portraits issued by the cigarette company W.S. Kimball & Co. In the late 19th century, the rise of mass media created new forms of celebrity. Actresses became idols, their images circulated on postcards and, like this one, as collectibles included in cigarette packs. This was a novel marketing strategy aimed at associating glamour and sophistication with the brand, enticing consumers to purchase their products. The institutional history of museums at this time reveals how such images started to gain artistic relevance, entering collections as documents of popular culture. To fully understand the cultural significance of these cards, one might explore theater archives, delve into the history of advertising, and analyze the press coverage of actresses like Alice Raymond. Appreciating art involves understanding its social life.