Tambourine, from the Novelties series (N228, Type 5) issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

Curator: This is "Tambourine," a print from the Novelties series created around 1889 by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company. It's currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: She's striking. It's such an ethereal face, framed by this dark, almost mournful veil—juxtaposed with the cheer of the tambourine. Curator: Exactly. It's a color print, a genre piece showcasing the decorative art that was gaining popularity with Japonisme influences trickling through at the time. Think commercial art, but aiming for high aesthetic appeal. Editor: There's a playful quality to it, though. The tambourine almost feels like a little stage, and she's peeking out at the audience. I can almost hear a faint rattle. Curator: That’s interesting! In this period, marketing materials often adopted artistic styles to elevate the perceived value of the product. Kinney Brothers used these trade cards as a means to make their tobacco products more appealing. Editor: I bet this card got slipped into many pockets and collected! This hints at an imagined encounter, you know? Who is she? Where is she going after the performance? It sparks stories, really. Curator: And how it speaks to the wider circulation of images at the time! Color prints became ubiquitous, entering homes, shaping popular culture, creating connections between consumers and idealized imagery. The face, the tambourine...it became a symbol in a wider world. Editor: Right. A little world within the pocket, you could say. But what if she's not a performer at all, but hiding, concealed by the lace? She is both hiding and revealing, you know, an enigmatic smile under the guise of this strange portable little instrument. Curator: It truly shows the power images have. Whether in an art gallery, a collector’s album or advertising tool. Its appeal transcends social strata and it influences the everyday world around us. Editor: It sure does! It leaves you thinking about fleeting beauty, or maybe hidden intentions.