Livorno, Italy, from the Surf Beauties series (N232), issued by Kinney Bros. 1889

This image is a chromolithograph from the ‘Surf Beauties’ series, printed by Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company in the United States. The subject is a woman in a bathing costume wading in the sea near Livorno, Italy. At the time this image was made, in the late 19th century, Tobacco companies often included collectible cards like this one in their cigarette packs as a marketing strategy. Series like ‘Surf Beauties’ reflect contemporary fascinations with leisure, travel, and idealized femininity. The image tells us about the growth of the leisure industry, which would become central to the economy of places such as Livorno in Italy. It also tells us about the way women were portrayed in visual culture. Historians examine printed ephemera such as these cards alongside other sources to understand popular tastes, promotional strategies, and social values of the time.