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

This is a carte-de-visite featuring Emma Carson, from the Actresses series, produced by the cigarette company, William S. Kimball & Co. Such cards were popular in the United States and Europe from the 1860s onwards. Though mass-produced, they held social and cultural value, often collected and traded amongst friends, family, and acquaintances. What makes this particular card interesting is the way it intersects commerce, celebrity culture, and the burgeoning advertising industry of the late 19th century. Consider the economics here: Kimball & Co. used the image of a popular actress to promote its cigarettes, capitalizing on her fame to sell its product. In turn, Emma Carson gained wider recognition, blurring the lines between art, entertainment, and advertising. This card provides a fascinating glimpse into the social conditions that shaped the production and consumption of images in an era defined by industrialization and mass media. Understanding such cultural artifacts involves delving into business archives, theater ephemera, and social histories to reveal the intricate networks of meaning embedded within them.