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

Here we see ‘Ida, from the Ballet Queens series,’ an advertisement card issued by Wm. S. Kimball & Co. These cards, distributed with tobacco products, offer a glimpse into the world of entertainment and marketing in the late 19th century. The “Ballet Queens” series, like many of its kind, exoticized female performers for a predominantly male consumer base. Ida is presented as a vision of beauty and grace, carefully curated to appeal to the desires of the time. Yet, looking closer, we might ask: Who was Ida? What were her aspirations and experiences as a performer? These cards often overlooked the individual stories of the women they depicted, reducing them to mere commodities. This tension between representation and reality prompts us to reflect on the historical objectification of women in the entertainment industry. Consider how it mirrors contemporary debates around representation, agency, and the gaze, and prompts us to consider the complex interplay between art, commerce, and identity.